![The Irish have about as many ways to cook potatoes as the Eskimos have for snow. But always remember: "It is easy to half the potato when there is love."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/76/c3/1360601158_3665_Potato.jpg?itok=ZSiEOXHb "The Irish have about as many ways to cook potatoes as the Eskimos have for snow. But always remember: "It is easy to half the potato when there is love.""){kind=small}
![An important part of celebrating St. Valentine's Day in February is to remember the Irish blessing: "May you have warm hands on a cold evening."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/d0/f3/1360601158_7537_gloves.jpg?itok=w6zxr7m7 "An important part of celebrating St. Valentine's Day in February is to remember the Irish blessing: "May you have warm hands on a cold evening."")
![As we celebrate St. Valentine's Day, remember the Irish say true love is the: "Pulse of my heart, song of my soul, light of my night."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/d7/fe/d7fe0d51566c3afe2c8adc21a950fef5.jpg?itok=A6AYq_YY "As we celebrate St. Valentine's Day, remember the Irish say true love is the: "Pulse of my heart, song of my soul, light of my night.""){kind=small}
The Irish are known for their facility with words. You may have heard the story of Queen Elizabeth I, while requesting an oath of loyalty to retain occupancy of land, received responses from Cormac Teige McCarthy, the Lord of Blarney, which amounted to subtle diplomacy, and promised loyalty to the Queen without "giving in." Elizabeth proclaimed that McCarthy was giving her "(a lot of) blarney," thus apparently giving rise to the legend that the Blarney Stone would impart the gift of gab. John O'Connor Power says: 'Blarney is something more than mere flattery. It is flattery sweetened by humour and flavoured by wit. Those who mix with Irish folk have many examples of it in their everyday experience."
The ability to flatter with humor and wit is also known to extend to the Irish ability to speak pleasing words to a lover (or potential lover). Since St. Valentine is buried in Ireland, some of these sayings may be very handy for those observing his day.
1. Pulse of my heart, song of my soul, light of my night.
2. May you have warm hands on a cold evening.
3. It is easy to half the potato when there is love.
4. Love him when he least deserves it, that's when he most needs it.
5. Love makes time pass, beware time making love pass.
6. Always trust, when mistrust comes love goes out.
7. I believe there is a sun when it is not shining, I believe there is a God when I cannot see him, I believe there is love when I feel it not.
8. Beware an Irishman who loves his wife the most but his mother the longest.
9. Trouble in love hates nothing more than a smile.
10. Love is like a lifeboat on the stormy sea of life.
![As we celebrate St. Valentine's Day, remember the Irish say true love is the: "Pulse of my heart, song of my soul, light of my night."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/01/9d/019dd9c99dcc9098b1ed7a9a56d827a4.jpg?itok=zgg-C8th "As we celebrate St. Valentine's Day, remember the Irish say true love is the: "Pulse of my heart, song of my soul, light of my night."")
![An important part of celebrating St. Valentine's Day in February is to remember the Irish blessing: "May you have warm hands on a cold evening."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/d0/f3/1360601158_7537_gloves.jpg?itok=NWeF9ea- "An important part of celebrating St. Valentine's Day in February is to remember the Irish blessing: "May you have warm hands on a cold evening."")
![The Irish have about as many ways to cook potatoes as the Eskimos have for snow. But always remember: "It is easy to half the potato when there is love."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/76/c3/1360601158_3665_Potato.jpg?itok=V1uDgBJW "The Irish have about as many ways to cook potatoes as the Eskimos have for snow. But always remember: "It is easy to half the potato when there is love."")
![The "bad boy" is common enough in Ireland these days, but on Valentine's Day, don't forget: "Love him when he least deserves it, that's when he most needs it."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/bc/e2/bce2d51b5e4231143c7e3c772901e635.jpg?itok=iQY-Etxl "The "bad boy" is common enough in Ireland these days, but on Valentine's Day, don't forget: "Love him when he least deserves it, that's when he most needs it."")
![In America we say, "I love you more today than yesterday." In Ireland, it's even more poetic: "Love makes time pass, beware time making love pass."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/ed/c1/edc176e0650134860418200ce2dea9e9.jpg?itok=N4Hwphi_ "In America we say, "I love you more today than yesterday." In Ireland, it's even more poetic: "Love makes time pass, beware time making love pass."")
![Jealousy is a green-eyed monster that will destroy love and happiness. On Valentine's Day, the Irish say: "Always trust, when mistrust comes love goes out."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/0c/55/1360601158_4512_Trust.jpg?itok=_dst9TdG "Jealousy is a green-eyed monster that will destroy love and happiness. On Valentine's Day, the Irish say: "Always trust, when mistrust comes love goes out."")
![You can't see air, but you can feel its effects. In the same way, the Irish say: "I believe there is a sun when it is not shining, I believe there is a God when I cannot see him, I believe there is love when I feel it not."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/e2/8d/e28d5144fbc20ce34ed571f7be793d31.jpg?itok=5lzuT-MV "You can't see air, but you can feel its effects. In the same way, the Irish say: "I believe there is a sun when it is not shining, I believe there is a God when I cannot see him, I believe there is love when I feel it not."")
![There are always two most important women in the life of an Irish man. That's why they say: "Beware an Irishman who loves his wife the most but his mother the longest."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/99/30/9930bbd1a4f6f3c7fdc4f3b7420a9f82.jpg?itok=Ikt8qu04 "There are always two most important women in the life of an Irish man. That's why they say: "Beware an Irishman who loves his wife the most but his mother the longest."")
![It changes your mood, it increases your endorphins, it makes a difference in the lives of those around you. Or, as the old Irish saying goes: "Trouble in love hates nothing more than a smile"](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/1b/b6/1360601158_3491_Smile.jpg?itok=qHHPu818 "It changes your mood, it increases your endorphins, it makes a difference in the lives of those around you. Or, as the old Irish saying goes: "Trouble in love hates nothing more than a smile"")
![When all else seems lost, when you can't find a friend, one who loves you will still be there. As the Irish say: "Love is like a lifeboat on the stormy sea of life."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/85/f7/85f7fd7e0331050fe74c209c6a6ebcd9.jpg?itok=J8uTsiMs "When all else seems lost, when you can't find a friend, one who loves you will still be there. As the Irish say: "Love is like a lifeboat on the stormy sea of life."")
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