You speak to me of language, nationality, religion...I shall try to fly by those nets.
—A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, chapter 5


A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.
—Ulysses, episode 9


Welcome O life, I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race. Old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead.
—A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man


History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.
—Ulysses, episode 2


I fear those big words that make us so unhappy.
—Ulysses, episode 2