"Writing in English is the most ingenious torture ever devised for sins committed in previous lives. The English reading public explains the reason why"

In this quote, James Joyce is revealing his belief that composing in English is a form of punishment for past misbehaviors. He sees the act of composing in English as a clever and cunning method to cause suffering on those who have actually sinned in their previous lives. Joyce likewise recommends that the English reading public is responsible for this torture, indicating that they are the ones who have created and perpetuated this type of penalty. This quote highlights Joyce's disappointment with the English language and its influence on his writing, as well as his belief in the concept of karma and the concept that one's actions in past lives can have consequences in today.