--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History is a nightmare from which I am…" description: "\"“History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. —JAMES JOYCE”\" — Gordon G. Chang" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/gordon-g-chang-10335_history_history-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-t_1986396.jpg" --- # History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake… ![“History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. —JAMES JOYCE” quote by Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/gordon-g-chang-10335_history_history-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-t_1986396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/gordon-g-chang-10335_history_history-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-t_1986396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/gordon-g-chang-10335_history_history-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-t_1986396.jpg) > ““History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. —JAMES JOYCE”” [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History feels like a terrifying dream that the narrator wishes to escape. **In simple terms:** History can be overwhelming. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront historical trauma. Themes history nightmare awakening Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - education - political analysis - mental health Key Concepts psychology memory trauma Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of history haunt you? - Can confronting history empower you? A Different Perspective Escaping history may ignore lessons it offers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-nightmare-1035924/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/james-joyce/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Nightmare Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare-trying-818200/) [Trying Awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-awake-818202/) ## Related quotes > [History... is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/history-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-trying-to-awake/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/history-stephen-said-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-trying-to-awake/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“History ... is a nightmare from which I am trying to wake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/history-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-trying-to-wake/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [James Joyce is right about history being a nightmare-- but it may be that nightmare from which no one can awaken. People are trapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/james-joyce-is-right-about-history-being-a-nightmare-but-it-may-be/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [Harder than waking from a nightmare was trying to wake herself into one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/harder-than-waking-from-a-nightmare-was-trying-to-wake-herself-into/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [“Joyce is right about history being a nightmare—but it may be the nightmare from which no one can awaken. People are trapped in history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/joyce-is-right-about-history-being-a-nightmare-but-it-may-be-the/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [Every day set the simple goal of trying to be more awake and less distracted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/every-day-set-the-simple-goal-of-trying-to-be-more-awake-and-less/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I have such a sweet tooth, which is a nightmare when you're trying to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/i-have-such-a-sweet-tooth-which-is-a-nightmare-when-you-re-trying-to/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [History is not a nightmare from which. I am trying to awaken, but rather, a glorious tale which I wish to be cast in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-not-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-trying-to-awaken-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I used to go to Elvis's house was always a nightmare trying to get into the house because of so many fans outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-deshannon/when-i-used-to-go-to-elvis-s-house-was-always-a-nightmare-trying-to/) [Jackie DeShannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-deshannon/) > [History is that nightmare from which there is no awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/history-is-that-nightmare-from-which-there-is-no-awakening/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“To pass the time, I made valiant strides in my effort to read Ulysses, but feared I was losing the war. A hundred pages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-justin-shier/to-pass-the-time-i-made-valiant-strides-in-my-effort-to-read-ulysses/) [B. Justin Shier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-justin-shier/) > [If you ever want to understand multitasking in prose, James Joyce is your man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-delaney/if-you-ever-want-to-understand-multitasking-in-prose-james-joyce-is/) [Frank Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-delaney/) > [James Joyce actually is rewarding you in all of these incredible ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-andrews/james-joyce-actually-is-rewarding-you-in-all-of-these-incredible-ways/) [Jesse Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-andrews/) > [I'm not one of those James Joyce intellectuals who can stand back and look at the whole edifice... It was a slow process for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-m-not-one-of-those-james-joyce-intellectuals-who-can-stand-back-and/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) ## More by Gordon G. Chang > [“in the words of jurist John Marshall of the U.S. Supreme Court, “the power to tax involves the power to destroy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/in-the-words-of-jurist-john-marshall-of-the-u-s-supreme-court-the/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Yet Zhongguancun pales when measured against India’s Bangalore, where government-sponsored development efforts started at about the same time. Today Bangalore produces original product, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/yet-zhongguancun-pales-when-measured-against-india-s-bangalore-where/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“the traditionally used ratios of deficit to GDP and total debt to GDP, as computed using the official numbers, grossly overstate how much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/the-traditionally-used-ratios-of-deficit-to-gdp-and-total-debt-to-gdp/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“as long as our dreams outweigh our memories, America will be forever young”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/as-long-as-our-dreams-outweigh-our-memories-america-will-be-forever/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“China will make real progress in the fight against corruption only when prosecution and conviction are separated from politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/china-will-make-real-progress-in-the-fight-against-corruption-only/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“The students who surrendered the square on the morning of June 4 could not begin to imagine, in those sad days of 1989, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/the-students-who-surrendered-the-square-on-the-morning-of-june-4/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Consider these words from Lech Wałęsa: In the past, you could stand with a gun behind a man who had a pick and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/consider-these-words-from-lech-wa-sa-in-the-past-you-could-stand-with/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Before laissez-faire there was wu wei. “Practise not doing and everything will fall into place,” says the Tao Te Ching, Taoism’s primer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/before-laissez-faire-there-was-wu-wei-practise-not-doing-and/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“at any given time about 30 percent of the stocks on China’s markets are being manipulated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/at-any-given-time-about-30-percent-of-the-stocks-on-china-s-markets/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Restraint, however, is the essence of modern governance. A government’s self-control permits its people to create, explore, and discover, and that’s what allows a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/restraint-however-is-the-essence-of-modern-governance-a-government-s/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Until the tide goes out you don’t know who’s swimming naked. —WARREN BUFFETT”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/until-the-tide-goes-out-you-don-t-know-who-s-swimming-naked-warren/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Communism went against life, against man’s fundamental needs, against the need for freedom, the need to be enterprising, to associate freely against the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/communism-went-against-life-against-man-s-fundamental-needs-against/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“The Maoist mechanisms of social control have been loosened. A totalitarian state has become merely an authoritarian one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/the-maoist-mechanisms-of-social-control-have-been-loosened-a/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Although China is short of the people it really needs—scientists, economists, doctors, teachers, practically everybody, in fact, except Indian chiefs—it employs its best and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/although-china-is-short-of-the-people-it-really-needs-scientists/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“Crime wouldn’t pay if the government ran it. —UNKNOWN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/crime-wouldn-t-pay-if-the-government-ran-it-unknown/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) [Explore all 66 Gordon G. Chang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) ## More History quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. —JAMES JOYCE”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon G. 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