By an epiphany he meant a sudden spiritual manifestation, whether in the vulgarity of speech or of gesture or memorable phrase of the mind itself. He believed it was for the man of letters to record these epiphanies with extreme care (saving them for later use, that is), seeing that they themselves are the most delicate and evanescent of moments.
James JoycePhall if you but will, rise you must: and none so soon either shall the pharce for the nunce come to a setdown secular phoenish.
James Joyce