Air Quote by James Joyce
“Away! Away! The spell of arms and voices: the white arms of roads, their promise of close embraces and the black arms of tall ships that stand against the moon, their tale of distant nations. They are held out to say: We are alone. Come. And the voices say with them: We are your kinsmen. And the air is thick with their company as they call to me, their kinsman, making ready to go, shaking the wings of their exultant and terrible youth... 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.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Ulysses, James Joyce, 1922
The passage celebrates the call of distant cultures and the youthful, adventurous spirit that drives one to seek new experiences and forge a collective conscience.
In simple terms: It urges embracing adventure and shared humanity.
Key Takeaway
Answer the call of adventure and connect with others.
Themes
adventure
culture
identity
humanity
exploration
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- travel
- artistic creation
- personal growth
- cross‑cultural exchange
Key Concepts
collective consciousness
youthful zeal
existential quest
global unity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “uncreated conscience” mean to you?
- How can we balance curiosity with responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Romanticizing adventure may ignore practical risks.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)
