The mocker is never taken seriously when he is most serious.
 James Joyce, Ulysses (1922). copy citation

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Author James Joyce
Source Ulysses
Topic
Date 1922
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4300/4300-h/4300-h.htm

Context

“In pairing time. Jove, a cool ruttime send them. Yea, turtledove her. Eve. Naked wheatbellied sin. A snake coils her, fang in’s kiss. —Do you think it is only a paradox? the quaker librarian was asking. The mocker is never taken seriously when he is most serious. They talked seriously of mocker’s seriousness. Buck Mulligan’s again heavy face eyed Stephen awhile. Then, his head wagging, he came near, drew a folded telegram from his pocket. His mobile lips read, smiling with new delight.” source