Encounter Quote by James Joyce
““He did not want to play. He wanted to meet in the real world the unsubstantial image which his soul so constantly beheld. He did not know where to seek it or how, but a premonition which led him on told him that this image would, without any overt act of his, encounter him. They would meet quietly as if they had known each other and had made their tryst, perhaps at one of the gates or in some more secret place. They would be alone, surrounded by darkness and silence: and in that moment of supreme tenderness he would be transfigured. He would fade into something impalpable under her eyes and then in a moment he would be transfigured. Weakness and timidity and inexperience would fall from him in that magic moment.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 1916
The narrator seeks an ethereal, transformative encounter that transcends ordinary experience, leading to personal rebirth.
In simple terms: He longs for a mystical meeting that changes him.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments that inspire profound personal change.
Themes
longing
transformation
spirituality
Mood
yearanchored
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Artistic inspiration
- personal crisis
- creative breakthrough
Key Concepts
Mysticism
self‑actualization
inner journey
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner image are you searching for?
- How can you create space for quiet transformation?
A Different Perspective
The encounter may be idealized, not easily attainable in reality.
