--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think you're escaping and run into…" description: "\"Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.\" — James Joyce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-joyce-281_escaping_think-you-re-escaping-and-run-into-yours_2544794.jpg" --- # Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way… ![“Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.” quote by James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-joyce-281_escaping_think-you-re-escaping-and-run-into-yours_2544794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-joyce-281_escaping_think-you-re-escaping-and-run-into-yours_2544794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-joyce-281_escaping_think-you-re-escaping-and-run-into-yours_2544794.jpg) > “Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.” [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. Self‑confrontation reveals that the longest detours often lead directly back to one's true path. **In simple terms:** Facing yourself short the shortest route home. Key Takeaway Embrace inner challenges to find clarity. Themes self‑discovery paradox journey Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative blocks - problem solving - decision making Key Concepts identity reflection circularity Questions to Reflect On - What inner obstacle are you avoiding? - How can confronting yourself simplify your goals? A Different Perspective The shortcut may still require confronting uncomfortable truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Ulysses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ulysses/) ## Related quotes > [“sometimes the longest way around is the shortest way home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/sometimes-the-longest-way-around-is-the-shortest-way-home/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Longest way round is the shortest way home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce-ulysses/longest-way-round-is-the-shortest-way-home/) James Joyce, Ulysses > [The longest way round is the shortest way home. (Quoting Alexander MacLaren, The Wearied Christ and Other Sermons)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-longest-way-round-is-the-shortest-way-home-quoting-alexander/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The longest way round is the shortest way home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-longest-way-round-is-the-shortest-way-home/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every time you think of escaping mentally or physically, grab the book that lies inches away from your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muna-adnan-naqi/every-time-you-think-of-escaping-mentally-or-physically-grab-the-book/) Muna Adnan Naqi > [I don't think escaping is necessarily a problem, but we can get addicted to almost anything. If you're craving being in this other reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-mohr/i-don-t-think-escaping-is-necessarily-a-problem-but-we-can-get/) [Joshua Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-mohr/) > [If I train the hardest, run the longest, go beyond what anyone else has the mental determination to do, I will be the winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-i-train-the-hardest-run-the-longest-go-beyond-what-anyone-else-has/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“The shortest way to Tara is via Holyhead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/the-shortest-way-to-tara-is-via-holyhead/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“What name do I have for you? Certainly there is no name for you In the sense that the stars have names That somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashbery/what-name-do-i-have-for-you-certainly-there-is-no-name-for-you-in-the/) [John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashbery/) > [The longest way must have its close - the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/the-longest-way-must-have-its-close-the-gloomiest-night-will-wear-on/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“Just one thing can go down the deepest ocean,climb the highest mountain,walk the longest way and that is LOVE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gozy/just-one-thing-can-go-down-the-deepest-ocean-climb-the-highest/) Gozy > [Ulysses is son to Laertes, but he is father to Telemachus, husband to Penelope, lover of Calypso, companion in arms of the Greek warriors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/ulysses-is-son-to-laertes-but-he-is-father-to-telemachus-husband-to/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [ I've been working hard on \[Ulysses\] all day," said Joyce. Does that mean that you have written a great deal?" I said. Two sentences,"… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/i-ve-been-working-hard-on-ulysses-all-day-said-joyce-does-that-mean/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Mr Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/mr-leopold-bloom-ate-with-relish-the-inner-organs-of-beasts-and-fowls/) [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/) ## 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 Escaping quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Writing is the self escaping into the open." E.B. White”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solveig-eggerz/writing-is-the-self-escaping-into-the-open-e-b-white/) Solveig Eggerz > [Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/patience-is-necessary-in-this-life-because-so-much-of-life-is-fraught/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [Elvis' early music has drama because as he sang he was escaping limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/elvis-early-music-has-drama-because-as-he-sang-he-was-escaping-limits/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [I think the reason I'm an actor is the joy I find from escaping and going to be somebody else. That's what I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glover/i-think-the-reason-i-m-an-actor-is-the-joy-i-find-from-escaping-and/) [John Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glover/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [My youth is escaping without giving me anything it owes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/my-youth-is-escaping-without-giving-me-anything-it-owes-me/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [Now there is no taboo; everything is allowed. But one cannot simply go back to tonality, it’s not the way. We must find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyorgy-ligeti/now-there-is-no-taboo-everything-is-allowed-but-one-cannot-simply-go/) [Gyorgy Ligeti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyorgy-ligeti/) > [“Is there any escaping the junkshop of the self?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-smith/is-there-any-escaping-the-junkshop-of-the-self/) [Ali Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-smith/) > [Now the first step has to be taken, the step towards democracy. This step is full of risks, and requires trust on all sides.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-barenboim/now-the-first-step-has-to-be-taken-the-step-towards-democracy-this/) [Daniel Barenboim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-barenboim/) > [“The dark might be dark, but at least we don’t have to look at ourselves when we’re standing in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-dark-might-be-dark-but-at-least-we-don-t-have-to-look-at/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [My films do have characters who have trouble escaping the world around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lasse-hallstrom/my-films-do-have-characters-who-have-trouble-escaping-the-world/) [Lasse Hallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lasse-hallstrom/) > [She clutched the train ticket tighter and waited for the sense of escape to come over her as it had a dozen times before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-brockway/she-clutched-the-train-ticket-tighter-and-waited-for-the-sense-of/) [Connie Brockway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-brockway/) > [The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he's in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-way-to-keep-a-prisoner-from-escaping-is-to-make-sure-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 344 Escaping quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Think you're escaping and run into yourself. 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