I asked Dr. Seward to give me a little opiate of some…
““I asked Dr. Seward to give me a little opiate of some kind, as I had not slept well the night before…I hope I have not done wrong, for as sleep begins to flirt with me, a new fear comes: that I may have been foolish in thus depriving myself of the power of waking. I might want it. Here comes sleep. Goodnight.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker anxiously seeks a drug to aid sleep, fearing that surrendering to sleep may be foolish, yet still longs for rest.
In simple terms: Fear of losing control while craving sleep.
Key Takeaway
Balance rest with awareness.
Themes
sleep
anxiety
addiction
selfcontrol
fear
Mood
uneasy
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- nighttime insomnia
- self‑medication
- stress relief
- creative work
- night shift
Key Concepts
psychology
dependency
vulnerability
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever use substances to manage sleep?
- How does fear of missing out on wakefulness affect rest?
A Different Perspective
Sleep can mask underlying issues and lead to dependence.