The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit.
James JoyceRead
The supreme question about a work of art is out of how deep a life does it spring. Paintings of Moreau are paintings of ideas. The deepest poetry of Shelley, the words of Hamlet bring our mind into contact with the eternal wisdom; Plato's world of ideas. All the rest is the speculation of schoolboys for schoolboys.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The depth of an artwork reflects the richness of life experiences that inspire it.
James Joyce emphasizes that the value of art lies in its ability to connect deeply with the human experience. He argues that true art emerges from profound life experiences, suggesting that the greatest works, such as those of Shelley or the ideas of Plato, convey timeless wisdom and invite viewers to engage with deeper philosophical thoughts, rather than mere superficial interpretations.
Themes
ArtWisdomLifeExperienceDepth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of artistic expression in personal development.
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.
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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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