Quote by Brian W. Aldiss

It's at night, when perhaps we should be dreaming, that the mind is most clear, that we are most able to hold all our life in the palm of our skull. I don't know if anyone has ever pointed out that great attraction of insomnia before, but it is so; the night seems to release a little more of our vast backward inheritance of instincts and feelings; as with the dawn, a little honey is allowed to ooze between the lips of the sandwich, a little of the stuff of dreams to drip into the waking mind. I wish I believed, as J. B. Priestley did, that consciousness continues after disembodiment or death, not forever, but for a long while. Three score years and ten is such a stingy ration of time, when there is so much time around. Perhaps that's why some of us are insomniacs; night is so precious that it would be pusillanimous to sleep all through it! A bad night is not always a bad thing.

It's at night, when perhaps we should be dreaming, that the

Summary

This quote highlights the unique allure of insomnia during the night. The author suggests that sleeplessness allows for a heightened clarity of mind and an opportunity to tap into deep-rooted instincts and emotions. They compare this experience to the release found in the dawn, allowing a glimpse of dreams to infuse into waking consciousness. The quote further reflects on the brevity of human existence and expresses a wish for an afterlife where consciousness persists for a considerable time. The author suggests that some individuals struggle with insomnia because they perceive the night as a precious commodity that should not be wasted by sleeping through it. Ultimately, it suggests that a difficult night can still hold value and significance.

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By Brian W. Aldiss

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