I've been working hard on [Ulysses] all day," said Joyce…
![“I've been working hard on [Ulysses] all day," said Joyce. Does that mean that you have written a great deal?" I said. Two sentences," said Joyce. I looked sideways but Joyce was not smiling. I thought of [French novelist Gustave] Flaubert. "You've been seeking the mot juste?" I said. No," said…” quote by James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/275/james-joyce-281_deals_i-ve-been-working-hard-on-ulysses-all-da_1018148.jpg)
“I've been working hard on [Ulysses] all day," said Joyce. Does that mean that you have written a great deal?" I said. Two sentences," said Joyce. I looked sideways but Joyce was not smiling. I thought of [French novelist Gustave] Flaubert. "You've been seeking the mot juste?" I said. No," said Joyce. "I have the words already. What I am seeking is the perfect order of words in the sentence.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Joyce seeks the perfect arrangement of words, not just the right word, emphasizing structure over isolated vocabulary.
In simple terms: He wants the whole sentence to flow perfectly.
Key Takeaway
Focus on overall sentence flow.
Themes
writing
craft
precision
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- editing drafts
- creative writing workshops
- academic analysis
Key Concepts
syntactic harmony
literary style
Questions to Reflect On
- How to balance perfection with progress?
- When is a sentence "good enough"?
A Different Perspective
Perfect order may be unattainable, leading to endless revision.