--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are an unfortunate priest-ridden race…" description: "\"We are an unfortunate priest-ridden race and always were and always will be tell the end of the chapter… A priest-ridden Godforsaken race.\" — James Joyce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/james-joyce-281_chapters_we-are-an-unfortunate-priest-ridden-race_2052571.jpg" --- # We are an unfortunate priest-ridden race and always were… ![“We are an unfortunate priest-ridden race and always were and always will be tell the end of the chapter… A priest-ridden Godforsaken race.” quote by James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/james-joyce-281_chapters_we-are-an-unfortunate-priest-ridden-race_2052571.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/james-joyce-281_chapters_we-are-an-unfortunate-priest-ridden-race_2052571.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/james-joyce-281_chapters_we-are-an-unfortunate-priest-ridden-race_2052571.jpg) > “We are an unfortunate priest-ridden race and always were and always will be tell the end of the chapter… A priest-ridden Godforsaken race.” [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. Humanity is plagued by religious authority, leading to a bleak, endless cycle. **In simple terms:** Religion creates endless conflict and suffering. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek personal truth. Themes religion critique human condition Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - political discourse - personal belief systems - historical analysis Key Concepts existentialism institutional critique Questions to Reflect On - How does faith shape your worldview? - Can institutions be reformed rather than rejected? A Different Perspective Not all religious influence is negative; many find comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chapter Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapter-priest-3875634/) [Chapters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) [End Of The Chapter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-chapter-224214/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Godforsaken Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godforsaken-race-3875630/) [Priest Ridden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest-ridden-3875633/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Ridden Godforsaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridden-godforsaken-3875632/) [Unfortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunate/) [Unfortunate Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunate-priest-3875631/) ## Related quotes > [History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/history-i-believe-furnishes-no-example-of-a-priest-ridden-people-4/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“One of the vital things for a writer who’s writing a book, which is a lengthy project and is going to take about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/one-of-the-vital-things-for-a-writer-who-s-writing-a-book-which-is-a/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“a dark and empty place without our feelings. 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'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 Chapters quotes > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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