The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit.
James JoyceRead
He comes into the world God knows how, walks on the water, gets out of his grave and goes up off the Hill of Howth. What drivel is this?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote questions the miraculous nature of life and the absurdity of certain beliefs.
James Joyce's quote reflects on the complexities of existence and the incredulity one might feel towards the miraculous events that are often accepted without question. By juxtaposing the extraordinary with the mundane, Joyce criticizes the fantastical elements of faith and the absurdity that can arise from religious narratives, suggesting a skepticism toward unquestioned beliefs and the stories surrounding them.
Themes
ExistenceBeliefAbsurdityFaithSkepticism
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical debate about the nature of existence.
More from James Joyce
All quotes βI 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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