--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: —A pleased bottom. The turnstile. Is…" description: "\"“—A pleased bottom. The turnstile. Is that? . . . Blueribboned hat . . . Idly writing . . . What? Looked? . . . The curving balustrade: smoothsliding M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/james-joyce-281_step-by-step_a-pleased-bottom-the-turnstile-is-that-b_2252816.jpg" --- # —A pleased bottom. The turnstile. Is that?… ![“—A pleased bottom. The turnstile. Is that? . . . Blueribboned hat . . . Idly writing . . . What? Looked? . . . The curving balustrade: smoothsliding Mincius. Puck Mulligan, panamahelmeted, went step by step, iambing, trolling: John Eglinton, my jo, John. Why won't you wed a wife?” quote by James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/james-joyce-281_step-by-step_a-pleased-bottom-the-turnstile-is-that-b_2252816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/james-joyce-281_step-by-step_a-pleased-bottom-the-turnstile-is-that-b_2252816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/james-joyce-281_step-by-step_a-pleased-bottom-the-turnstile-is-that-b_2252816.jpg) > ““—A pleased bottom. The turnstile. Is that? . . . Blueribboned hat . . . Idly writing . . . What? Looked? . . . The curving balustrade: smoothsliding Mincius. Puck Mulligan, panamahelmeted, went step by step, iambing, trolling: John Eglinton, my jo, John. Why won't you wed a wife?”” [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A surreal, fragmented stream of consciousness reflecting absurdity and yearning in everyday moments. **In simple terms:** A bizarre, dreamy thought process about life and love. Key Takeaway Embrace the strange, seek connection. Themes absurdity yearning stream of consciousness identity love Mood confused curious reflective Type literary philosophical artistic When to use this quote - daily routine - creative writing - personal relationships - artistic inspiration Key Concepts modernism fragmentation existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What hidden desires emerge in chaotic thoughts? - How does absurdity reveal truth? A Different Perspective The disjointed style may obscure meaning for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mincius Puck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mincius-puck-5152770/) [Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mulligan-1256940/) [Puck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puck/) [Puck Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puck-mulligan-2721193/) [Step By Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-by-step/) [Turnstile Blueribboned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turnstile-blueribboned-5152771/) ## Related quotes > [“Puck Mulligan footed featly, trilling: I HARDLY HEAR THE PURLIEU CRY OR A TOMMY TALK AS I PASS ONE BY BEFORE MY THOUGHTS BEGIN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/puck-mulligan-footed-featly-trilling-i-hardly-hear-the-purlieu-cry-or/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed. A yellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/stately-plump-buck-mulligan-came-from-the-stairhead-bearing-a-bowl-of-2/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Carey Mulligan- I'd love to dress her. And Nicole Kidman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-packham/carey-mulligan-i-d-love-to-dress-her-and-nicole-kidman/) [Jenny Packham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-packham/) > [“This is my gift to you and your reward, Tom Mulligan, maker of ballads and journeyman worker in fine tales. 'Tis more than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herminie-templeton-kavanagh/this-is-my-gift-to-you-and-your-reward-tom-mulligan-maker-of-ballads/) [Herminie Templeton Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herminie-templeton-kavanagh/) > [I get mistaken for Amanda Holden; I've had that since I was 12. I get Carey Mulligan, too. We look quite similar, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-nixon/i-get-mistaken-for-amanda-holden-i-ve-had-that-since-i-was-12-i-get/) [Kimberley Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-nixon/) > [One thing both men have in common is a love of golf and a shared knowledge of the word "mulligan," which means a do-over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-thing-both-men-have-in-common-is-a-love-of-golf-and-a-shared/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I've been given the mulligan of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/i-ve-been-given-the-mulligan-of-my-life/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [We sailed to Italy on the Andrea Doria, a year before it sank, and Zoot (Sims) and I played a lot of ping-pong on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crow/we-sailed-to-italy-on-the-andrea-doria-a-year-before-it-sank-and-zoot/) [Bill Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crow/) > [Carey Mulligan is completely self-possessed. She knows what she's doing, and again, quite like the big-hitters I was talking about, my job was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/carey-mulligan-is-completely-self-possessed-she-knows-what-she-s/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Mulligan: invented by an Irishman who wanted to hit one more twenty yard grounder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bishop/mulligan-invented-by-an-irishman-who-wanted-to-hit-one-more-twenty/) [Jim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bishop/) > [“I don’t know even the Mulligan’s town residence. One night, as he bade us adieu in Oxford Street, — ”I live THERE,” says he,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-don-t-know-even-the-mulligan-s-town-residence-one-night-as-he-bade/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I'm not called Seve Ballesteros, I'm called Seve Mulligan because I've had the luck to be given a mulligan, which in golf is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/i-m-not-called-seve-ballesteros-i-m-called-seve-mulligan-because-i-ve/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [Never take a mulligan on a par 3. A "hole in three" is not a fun story to relive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-weiss/never-take-a-mulligan-on-a-par-3-a-hole-in-three-is-not-a-fun-story/) [Brian Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-weiss/) > [“The nurse whirled and fixed him with a gimlet eye. “You—” she began, then threw her hands up. “Go get ready, idiot. You’ve been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/the-nurse-whirled-and-fixed-him-with-a-gimlet-eye-you-she-began-then/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“That's the one." In Puck Connolly's custody. That might be the last I see of that jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/that-s-the-one-in-puck-connolly-s-custody-that-might-be-the-last-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More by James Joyce > [He found in the world without as actual what was in his world within as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/he-found-in-the-world-without-as-actual-what-was-in-his-world-within/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Ah, poor dogsbody! Here lies poor dogsbody's body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/ah-poor-dogsbody-here-lies-poor-dogsbody-s-body/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Do you know what Ireland is?' asked Stephen with cold violence. 'Ireland is the old sow that eats her farrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/do-you-know-what-ireland-is-asked-stephen-with-cold-violence-ireland/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [The studious silence of the library ... Thought is the thought of thought. Tranquil brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/the-studious-silence-of-the-library-thought-is-the-thought-of-thought/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“two cronies drank to the memory of their past. An abyss of fortune or of temperament sundered him from them. His mind seemed older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/two-cronies-drank-to-the-memory-of-their-past-an-abyss-of-fortune-or/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [He passes, struck by the stare of truculent Wellington but in the convex mirror grin unstruck the bonham eyes and fatchuck cheekchops of Jollypoldy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/he-passes-struck-by-the-stare-of-truculent-wellington-but-in-the/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“-Qui vous a mis dans cette fichue position?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/qui-vous-a-mis-dans-cette-fichue-position/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I hear the ruin of all space, shattered glass and toppled masonry, and time one livid final flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/i-hear-the-ruin-of-all-space-shattered-glass-and-toppled-masonry-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/full-many-a-flower-is-born-to-blush-unseen/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [In woman's womb word is made flesh but in the spirit of the maker all flesh that passes becomes the word that shall not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/in-woman-s-womb-word-is-made-flesh-but-in-the-spirit-of-the-maker-all/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Though people may read more into Ulysses than I ever intended, who is to say that they are wrong: do any of us know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/though-people-may-read-more-into-ulysses-than-i-ever-intended-who-is/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [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/) > [“It flows purling, widely flowing, floating foampool, flower unfurling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/it-flows-purling-widely-flowing-floating-foampool-flower-unfurling/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Explore all 707 James Joyce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) ## More Puck quotes > [“That's the one." In Puck Connolly's custody. That might be the last I see of that jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/that-s-the-one-in-puck-connolly-s-custody-that-might-be-the-last-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“The nurse whirled and fixed him with a gimlet eye. “You—” she began, then threw her hands up. “Go get ready, idiot. You’ve been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/the-nurse-whirled-and-fixed-him-with-a-gimlet-eye-you-she-began-then/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [Tomorrow, America's most famous hockey mom, Sarah Palin, will drop the ceremonial first puck at the Philadelphia Flyers game. Right afterwards, she'll get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/tomorrow-america-s-most-famous-hockey-mom-sarah-palin-will-drop-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“His forehead bumped softly against mine, his brilliant silver gaze searing into me. "I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/his-forehead-bumped-softly-against-mine-his-brilliant-silver-gaze/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [All that matters is that you find a way to put the puck in the net. It doesn't matter how. I learned that from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaromir-jagr/all-that-matters-is-that-you-find-a-way-to-put-the-puck-in-the-net-it/) [Jaromir Jagr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaromir-jagr/) > [I just try to do my best to shoot the puck and we'll see what's going to happen with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/i-just-try-to-do-my-best-to-shoot-the-puck-and-we-ll-see-what-s-going/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [“Oi, lovebirds!” Puck’s voice shattered the quiet, bouncing through the darkness. Ash pulled back with a rueful look. “Get a room, would ya? We’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/oi-lovebirds-puck-s-voice-shattered-the-quiet-bouncing-through-the/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [About 4000 men, women and teenagers regularly venture out to play a game in -20 weather and stinging prairie winds. Bundled in sweaters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-cox/about-4000-men-women-and-teenagers-regularly-venture-out-to-play-a/) [Bob Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-cox/) > [“Oy, prince,” Puck circled back, frowning. “What are you doing? If you didn't know already, the old chicken plucker is on her way, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/oy-prince-puck-circled-back-frowning-what-are-you-doing-if-you-didn-t/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [When I walk down the street in New York, I swear to God, the building constructor, the guy pounding cement and what not, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/when-i-walk-down-the-street-in-new-york-i-swear-to-god-the-building/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“Running away?" He taunted, as I drew my glamour to me, feeling it surge beneath my skin. "Always a coward, weren't you, prince? Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/running-away-he-taunted-as-i-drew-my-glamour-to-me-feeling-it-surge/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [Sometimes when you start playing games you don't get as many practices and you don't get as many touches. 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The turnstile. Is that? . . . Blueribboned hat . . . Idly writing . . . What? Looked? . . . The curving balustrade: smoothsliding Mincius. Puck Mulligan, panamahelmeted, went step by step, iambing, trolling: John Eglinton, my jo, John. 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