The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit.
James JoyceRead
Though people may read more into Ulysses than I ever intended, who is to say that they are wrong: do any of us know what we are creating?Which of us can control our scribblings? They are the script of one's personality like your voice or your walk
Interpretation
What this quote means
Art and literature can be interpreted in many ways, often beyond the creator's original intent.
James Joyce suggests that the interpretation of literary works, such as 'Ulysses', can vary greatly among readers, and acknowledges the inherent unpredictability of the artistic process. He implies that the essence of creation is deeply intertwined with the artist's personality, much like how one's voice or walk reflects their individuality, and questions whether anyone can truly control or fully understand their creative outputs.
Themes
ArtInterpretationCreationLiteratureIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
During a panel discussion on literature, one might quote Joyce to emphasize the subjective nature of art.
More from James Joyce
All quotes →I think a child should be allowed to take his father's or mother's name at will on coming of age. Paternity is a legal fiction.
James JoyceRead
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.
James JoyceRead
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.
James JoyceRead
I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.
James JoyceRead
The movements which work revolutions in the world are born out of the dreams and visions in a peasant's heart on the hillside.
James JoyceRead
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