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His heart danced upon her movements like a cork upon a tide. He heard what her eyes said to him from beneath their cowl and knew that in some dim past, whether in life or revery, he had heard their tale before.
James Joyce
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses a deep emotional connection and recognition between two people, suggesting a kind of timeless bond.

In this quote by James Joyce, the imagery conveys a profound sense of emotional resonance between two individuals. The comparison of his heart dancing like a cork upon a tide illustrates the lightness and joy he feels in response to her movements. The mention of recognizing her eyes and their tale hints at a soul-deep familiarity, implying that their connection transcends the present moment, possibly reaching into past lives or dreams. This creates an atmosphere of romantic mystique and suggests a powerful, unspoken understanding between them.

Themes

LoveConnectionRecognitionEmotionFamiliarity

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can inspire a romantic toast at a wedding, highlighting the connection between the couple.

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The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit.
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If he had smiled why would he have smiled? To reflect that each one who enters imagines himself to be the first to enter whereas he is always the last term of a preceding series even if the first term of a succeeding one, each imagining himself to be first, last, only and alone whereas he is neither first nor last nor only nor alone in a series originating in and repeated to infinity.
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Gentle lady, do not sing Sad songs about the end of love; Lay aside sadness and sing How love that passes is enough. Sing about the long deep sleep Of lovers that are dead, and how In the grave all love shall sleep: Love is aweary now.
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I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.
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The movements which work revolutions in the world are born out of the dreams and visions in a peasant's heart on the hillside.
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