An independent Ireland would ...

An independent Ireland would see its own independence in jeopardy the moment it saw the independence of Britain seriously threatened. Mutual self-interest would make the peoples of these two islands, if both independent, the closest possible allies in a moment of real national danger to either.
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 Eamon de Valera

Quotes from the same author

Could he not find in his heart the generosity to acknowledge that there is a small nation that stood alone not for one year or two, but for several hundred years against aggression; that endured spoliations, famines, massacres in endless succession; that was clubbed many times into insensibility, but that each time on returning [to] consciousness took up the fight anew; a small nation that could never be got to accept defeat and has never surrendered her soul?
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 Eamon de Valera
Mr. Churchill is proud of Britain's stand alone, after France had fallen and before America entered the War.
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 Eamon de Valera
For Irishmen, there is no football game to match rugby and if all our young men played rugby not only would we beat England and Wales but France and the whole lot of them put together.
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 Eamon de Valera
It is indeed hard for the strong to be just to the weak, but acting justly always has its rewards.
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 Eamon de Valera