Dr Ian Paisley's most famous quotes

Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Dr Ian Paisley, who has died. Credit: PA Wire

Dr Ian Paisley has been lauded as a "colossus of unionism" but he was also politically divisive and a controversial character.

Here are 10 of his most notable quotes.

1. "Never, never, never, never..." - outside Belfast City Hall as he addressed tens of thousands of loyalists protesting against the signing of the November 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.

2. "They breed like rabbits and multiply like vermin" -Talking about Catholics at a loyalist rally in 1969

3. "I am not going to sit down with bloodthirsty monsters who have been killing and terrifying my people" - opposing demands to sit down and talk with Sinn Fein.

4. "Mr Adams would have to repent from his evil ways. I am here tonight by the grace of God, a sinner saved by grace" - New York, 1994, when asked if he would shake Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams's hand.

He died aged 88 on Friday morning. Credit: PA Wire

5. "I denounce you, Anti-Christ! I refuse you as Christ's enemy and Antichrist with all your false doctrine" - addressing Pope John Paul II on a visit to the European Parliament October 1988.

6. "Line dancing is as sinful as any other type of dancing, with its sexual gestures and touching. It is an incitement to lust."

His wife said their family was 'heartbroken' by his death. Credit: PA Wire

7. "I will never sit down with Gerry Adams ... he'd sit with anyone. He'd sit down with the devil. In fact, Adams does sit down with the devil" - on Adams in February 1997.

8. "Let me smell your breath first, son" - Paisley's regular request to reporters, whom he suspected of drinking, before he would allow them to interview him.

Martin McGuinness, Dr Ian Paisley, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Credit: PA Wire

9. "If anybody had told me a few years ago that I would be doing this, I would have been unbelieving" - inside Parliament Buildings, Stormont, after agreeing to enter a power-sharing government with former IRA leader Martin McGuinness as his Deputy First Minister.

10. "I believe that Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace, a time when hate will no longer rule. How good it will be to be part of a wonderful healing in our Province" - his inaugural speech as First Minister.