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But he suddenly started up, and closing his eyes, placed…

“But he suddenly started up, and closing his eyes, placed his fingers upon the lids, as though he sought to imprison within his brain some curious dream from which he feared he might awake.” quote by Oscar Wilde
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““But he suddenly started up, and closing his eyes, placed his fingers upon the lids, as though he sought to imprison within his brain some curious dream from which he feared he might awake.””

Oscar Wilde

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He tries to lock a vivid, unsettling dream in his mind, fearing its awakening will disturb his consciousness.

In simple terms: He wants to keep a disturbing dream hidden.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and confront unsettling thoughts rather than suppress them.

Themes

psychology dreams fear selfcontrol consciousness

Mood

introspective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • nighttime anxiety
  • creative inspiration
  • meditation
  • psychotherapy
  • artistic imagination

Key Concepts

repression inner conflict imagery

Questions to Reflect On

  • What dreams are you trying to imprison?
  • How might confronting them change your perception?
A Different Perspective

Suppressing thoughts can intensify their power and cause distress.

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