James Joyce Quotes

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.

You made me confess the fears that I have. But I will tell you also what I do not fear. I do not fear to be alone or to be spurned for another or to leave whatever I have to leave. And I am not afraid to make a mistake, even a great mistake, a lifelong mistake and perhaps as long as eternity too.

Writing in English is the most ingenious torture ever devised for sins committed in previous lives. The English reading public explains the reason why.

History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.

‎I've put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that is the only way of insuring one's immortality.

He wanted to cry quietly but not for himself: for the words, so beautiful and sad, like music.

Why is it that words like these seem dull and cold? Is it because there is no word tender enough to be your name?

and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.

The artist, like the God of creation, remains within or behind or beyond or above his handiwork, invisible, refined out of existence, indifferent, paring his fingernails

God spoke to you by so many voices but you would not hear.

Interpretations of interpretations interpreted.

The soul ... has a slow and dark birth, more mysterious than the birth of the body. When the soul of a man is born in this country there are nets flung at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets.

All things are inconstant except the faith in the soul, which changes all things and fills their inconstancy with light...

He is cured by faith who is sick of fate.

Can't bring back time. Like holding water in your hand.

Secrets, silent, stony sit in the dark palaces of both our hearts: secrets weary of their tyranny: tyrants willing to be dethroned.

Beauty: it curves, curves are beauty. Shapely goddesses, Venus, Juno: curves the world admires.

YesIsaidyesyesyesyesyes...YesIsaidyes! andagainyesyesyes - Molly Bloom

He thought that he was sick in his heart if you could be sick in that place.

Shite and onions!