--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I…" description: "\"I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks. I work until I'm tired. I watch the wind play with the trash that's been under the snow all winte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/audrey-niffenegger-1298_going-to-sleep_i-go-to-sleep-alone-and-wake-up-alone-i_2104942.jpg" --- # I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks. I… ![“I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks. I work until I'm tired. I watch the wind play with the trash that's been under the snow all winter. Everything seems simple until you think about it. Why is love intensified by abscence?” quote by Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/audrey-niffenegger-1298_going-to-sleep_i-go-to-sleep-alone-and-wake-up-alone-i_2104942.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/audrey-niffenegger-1298_going-to-sleep_i-go-to-sleep-alone-and-wake-up-alone-i_2104942.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/audrey-niffenegger-1298_going-to-sleep_i-go-to-sleep-alone-and-wake-up-alone-i_2104942.jpg) > “I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks. I work until I'm tired. I watch the wind play with the trash that's been under the snow all winter. Everything seems simple until you think about it. Why is love intensified by abscence?” [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Absence intensifies love because longing creates emotional space that deepens appreciation and desire. **In simple terms:** Being apart makes love feel stronger. Key Takeaway Cherish time together, but value solitude. Themes love absence longing reflection Mood melancholic introspective hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - long-distance relationships - solo travel - creative work - personal growth Key Concepts attachment theory psychology of longing romantic idealism Questions to Reflect On - How does distance shape your feelings? - What practices keep love alive when apart? A Different Perspective Love can also fade without connection; absence isn’t always positive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Going to sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-sleep/) [I'm tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-m-tired/) [Intensified Abscence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensified-abscence-4222850/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Intensified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-intensified-2166841/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sleep Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep-alone/) [Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow/) [Think Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-love/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter/) [Winter Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter-simple-2134114/) ## Related quotes > [“It's hard being left behind...It's hard to be the one who stays...Why is love intensified by absence?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/it-s-hard-being-left-behind-it-s-hard-to-be-the-one-who-stays-why-is/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Why is love intensified by absence?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/why-is-love-intensified-by-absence/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Everything seems simple until you think about it. Why is love intensified by absence?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/everything-seems-simple-until-you-think-about-it-why-is-love/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Why is love intensified by absence? Long ago, men went to sea and women wait for them, standing on the edge of the water,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/why-is-love-intensified-by-absence-long-ago-men-went-to-sea-and-women/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“. I had been so focused on myself and all the ugliness that I felt inside of me that I forgot how beautiful the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-s-anderson/i-had-been-so-focused-on-myself-and-all-the-ugliness-that-i-felt/) [Paul S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-s-anderson/) > [Like a child, the earth's going to sleep, or so the story goes. But I'm not tired, it says. And the mother says, You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-gl-ck/like-a-child-the-earth-s-going-to-sleep-or-so-the-story-goes-but-i-m/) [Louise Glück](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-gl-ck/) > [My attitude when I'm in Mexico is I wake up in the morning with nothing to do and I go to bed half done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/my-attitude-when-i-m-in-mexico-is-i-wake-up-in-the-morning-with/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [The first thing I think about when I wake up most mornings is the fact that I'm tired. I have been tired for decades.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/the-first-thing-i-think-about-when-i-wake-up-most-mornings-is-the/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [You can get what you want. Never sell out. Don't break. Don't weaken. Don't let the kindness of strangers be your salvation, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/you-can-get-what-you-want-never-sell-out-don-t-break-don-t-weaken-don/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I don’t want to sleep alone,” she says gently. And I don’t force her to. Sarai falls fast asleep curled up next to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-don-t-want-to-sleep-alone-she-says-gently-and-i-don-t-force-her-to/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Be alone. Eat alone, take yourself on dates, sleep alone. In the midst of this you will learn about yourself. You will grow, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-sparacino/be-alone-eat-alone-take-yourself-on-dates-sleep-alone-in-the-midst-of/) [Bianca Sparacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-sparacino/) > [I came from a big family. As a matter of fact, I never got to sleep alone until I was married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/i-came-from-a-big-family-as-a-matter-of-fact-i-never-got-to-sleep/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [“Then again she wept aloud,– so bitterly that the voice of her crying pierced into the marrow of the listener’s bones; – and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-again-she-wept-aloud-so-bitterly-that-the-voice-of-her-crying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a huge space in my bed left, I rily dont like to sleep alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiah-ounah-seboko/there-is-a-huge-space-in-my-bed-left-i-rily-dont-like-to-sleep-alone/) [Tiah Ounah Seboko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiah-ounah-seboko/) > [In my room I'd barely closed my eyes when the blonde from the movie house came along and sang her whole song of sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/in-my-room-i-d-barely-closed-my-eyes-when-the-blonde-from-the-movie/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) ## More by Audrey Niffenegger > [But you know: you know that if I could have stayed, if I could have gone on, that I would have clutched every second:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/but-you-know-you-know-that-if-i-could-have-stayed-if-i-could-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I look at him, look at the book, remember, this book, this moment, the first book I ever loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-look-at-him-look-at-the-book-remember-this-book-this-moment-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“When I was young I didn't understand, but now, I know, how absence can be present, like a damaged nerve, like a dark bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-understand-but-now-i-know-how-absence-can/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Everything seems simple until you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/everything-seems-simple-until-you-think-about-it/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I place my hands over her ears and tip her head back, and kiss her, and try to put my heart into hers, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-place-my-hands-over-her-ears-and-tip-her-head-back-and-kiss-her-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Sister Carmelita says animals don't have souls" "Of course animals have souls, where did she get that idea?" "She said the Pope says." "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/sister-carmelita-says-animals-don-t-have-souls-of-course-animals-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [We didn't think the library was funny looking in it's faux- Greek splendor, nor did we find the cuisine limited or bland, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-didn-t-think-the-library-was-funny-looking-in-it-s-faux-greek/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [He said something interesting: he said that he thinks there is only free will when you are in time, in the present. He says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/he-said-something-interesting-he-said-that-he-thinks-there-is-only/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Dead is the most alone you can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/dead-is-the-most-alone-you-can-be/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I won't ever leave you, even though you're always leaving me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-won-t-ever-leave-you-even-though-you-re-always-leaving-me/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“It seems like we're going to collide, and we laugh, and laugh, and nothing can ever be sad, no one can be lost, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/it-seems-like-we-re-going-to-collide-and-we-laugh-and-laugh-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“We were royally miserable together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-were-royally-miserable-together/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“No.” Valentina closed her eyes. Of course not. “It’ll be great, Mouse. We’ll have our own apartment, we won’t have to work,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/no-valentina-closed-her-eyes-of-course-not-it-ll-be-great-mouse-we-ll/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“I make books because I love them as objects; because I want to put the pictures and the words together, because I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-make-books-because-i-love-them-as-objects-because-i-want-to-put-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) [Explore all 250 Audrey Niffenegger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## More Going to sleep quotes > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [When you're unhinged, things make their way out of you that should be kept inside, and other things get in that ought to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-you-re-unhinged-things-make-their-way-out-of-you-that-should-be/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [After a hard day, try to think of something good about it before you go to sleep - the result may surprise you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avery/after-a-hard-day-try-to-think-of-something-good-about-it-before-you/) [John Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avery/) > [When I go to sleep, someone wakes up to get their hustle on, that's why I get my 2 hours, their 2 hours and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/when-i-go-to-sleep-someone-wakes-up-to-get-their-hustle-on-that-s-why/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [Babies like fat. Like to bury they face up in you armpit and go to sleep. They like big fat legs too. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/babies-like-fat-like-to-bury-they-face-up-in-you-armpit-and-go-to/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [Jesus Christ rose up from the tomb. Well, he's the son of God, and now he's like God's spirit at this point. Why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/jesus-christ-rose-up-from-the-tomb-well-he-s-the-son-of-god-and-now/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Aromatherapy is extremely useful. If you want to go to sleep at night, and you have an aroma that calms your mind, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/aromatherapy-is-extremely-useful-if-you-want-to-go-to-sleep-at-night/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [We are constituted a good deal like chickens, which, taken from the hen, and put in a basket of cotton in the chimney-corner, willoften…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-constituted-a-good-deal-like-chickens-which-taken-from-the-hen/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I have little space from the suffering of elephants right now. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it. The plight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-have-little-space-from-the-suffering-of-elephants-right-now-i-wake/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [As I worked on projects which fulfilled a real human need forces were working through me which amazed me. I would often go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-carver/as-i-worked-on-projects-which-fulfilled-a-real-human-need-forces-were/) [George Washington Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-carver/) > [If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength-the-devil-knows-he-may-go-to/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [If you can, start your own business while you're working another job so that your bills get paid. Choose something that you love, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/if-you-can-start-your-own-business-while-you-re-working-another-job/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [I pray every night. I just talk to God and I can go to sleep. I don't worry anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-chlumsky/i-pray-every-night-i-just-talk-to-god-and-i-can-go-to-sleep-i-don-t/) [Anna Chlumsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-chlumsky/) > [In America, we have freedom of choice. But some are free to choose between Lamborghini and Rolls Royce while others are free to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/in-america-we-have-freedom-of-choice-but-some-are-free-to-choose/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) [Browse all 328 Going to sleep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-sleep/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks. I work until I'm tired. I watch the wind play with the trash that's been under the snow all winter. Everything seems simple until you think about it. 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