Quotes by James Joyce

“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...”

“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 afr...”

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

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

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

“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.”

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

“Let my country die for me.”

“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.”

“The peace of the gardens and the kindly lights in the windows poured a tender influence into his restless heart.”

“God and religion before every thing!' Dante cried. 'God and religion before the world.' Mr Casey raised his clenched fist and brought it down on the table with a crash.'Very well then,' he shouted ...”

“What dreams would he have, not seeing. Life a dream for him. Where is the justice being born that way?”

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

“... I've a thirst on me I wouldn't sell for half a crown.- Give it a name, citizen, says Joe.- Wine of the country, says he.- What's yours? says Joe.- Ditto MacAnaspey, says I.- Three pints, Terry,...”

“Your battles inspired me - not the obvious material battles but those that were fought and won behind your forehead.”

“He is cured by faith who is sick of fate.”

“I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it calls itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express my...”

“He laughed to free his mind from his minds bondage.”