The quote "First we feel. Then we fall." from James Joyce's "Finnegans Wake" encapsulates the complex relationship between emotions and actions. It suggests that our feelings precede our decisions or experiences, emphasizing that emotions are foundational to human experience. By feeling first, we allow our emotions to guide us, which can lead to both personal growth and inevitable mistakes. This reflects the duality of human experience where emotions lead to both elevation and downfall.

This profound observation invites readers to reflect on the nature of their own experiences, as the process of feeling can often propel us into uncharted territories. In "Finnegans Wake," Joyce's exploration of consciousness highlights how emotions shape our reality, pushing us towards challenges that can ultimately define us. The cyclical nature of feeling and falling illustrates the inherent risks of being human; it is through falling that we may also find the path to rising again.