"Poetry, even when apparently most fantastic, is always a revolt against artifice, a revolt, in a sense, against actuality"

In this quote, James Joyce is revealing his belief that poetry is a form of rebellion versus artificiality and the constraints of reality. He suggests that even when poetry seems to be filled with fantastical components, it is ultimately a rejection of the artificial and a desire to break free from the constraints of the real life. Joyce sees poetry as a way of challenging societal norms and expectations, and pressing the borders of what is considered appropriate or possible. By welcoming the fantastical, poetry becomes an effective tool for subverting the status quo and creating a brand-new, more genuine reality.