But all they are all there scraping along to sneeze out a likelihood that will solve and salve life's robulous rebus (12.32-33)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He remarks that everyone is busy trying to solve life's riddles, using a metaphor of scraping and sneezing.
- In plain terms
- People scramble to solve life's puzzles.
- What can you take from it?
- Focus on meaningful progress rather than frantic effort.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does 'scraping' symbolize for you?
- How do you differentiate productive work from frantic activity?
Another view
The metaphor may trivialize serious problem‑solving.
More from James Joyce
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