«The greatest horrors of our world, from the executions in Iran to the brutalities of the IRA, are committed by people who are totally sincere»

«Don't ever become a pessimist, Ira; a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun--and neither can stop the march of events.»

«Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, / Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, / Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, / Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, / Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, / Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, / Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, / Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, / Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, / Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, / Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, / Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, / Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, / Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, / Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, / Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.»

«Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: / And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: / And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: / And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.»

«The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.»

«Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, / Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, / Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite, / Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, / Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, / Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, / Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, / Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, / The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite, / Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, / Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, / Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, / Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, / Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, / Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, / Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, / Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, / Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, / Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, / Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, / Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, / Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.»