What was after the universe? Nothing. But was there…
![“What was after the universe? Nothing. But was there anything round the universe to show where it stopped before the nothing place began? It could not be a wall; but there could be a thin line there all round everything. [...] It pained him that he did not know well what politics meant and that he…” quote by James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/f1a/james-joyce-281_end_what-was-after-the-universe-nothing-but_929532.jpg)
““What was after the universe? Nothing. But was there anything round the universe to show where it stopped before the nothing place began? It could not be a wall; but there could be a thin line there all round everything. [...] It pained him that he did not know well what politics meant and that he did not know where the universe ended. He felt small and weak. When would he be like the fellows in poetry and rhetoric?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker contemplates the limits of the universe and his own insignificance, yearning for poetic grandeur.
In simple terms: He feels small and seeks meaning beyond the unknown.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility and curiosity about the cosmos.
Themes
existential
philosophical
poetry
knowledge
humility
Mood
wonder
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- stargazing
- academic study
- personal reflection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
cosmology
self-awareness
politics
literary ambition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you confront the unknown?
- What does poetic ambition mean to you?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor of a wall may oversimplify cosmic boundaries.