--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He felt as if he hadn't slept because he…" description: "\"“He felt as if he hadn't slept because he spent all night wandering through the world looking for a maiden who bore his heart in her womb. His heart gr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/ben-okri-3640_long-time_he-felt-as-if-he-hadn-t-slept-because-he_2607943.jpg" --- # He felt as if he hadn't slept because he spent all night… ![“He felt as if he hadn't slept because he spent all night wandering through the world looking for a maiden who bore his heart in her womb. His heart grew in her like a child. He was pregnant with his heart for a long time, for a year, for ten years, for a generation, for a hundred and two years…” quote by Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/ben-okri-3640_long-time_he-felt-as-if-he-hadn-t-slept-because-he_2607943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/ben-okri-3640_long-time_he-felt-as-if-he-hadn-t-slept-because-he_2607943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/ben-okri-3640_long-time_he-felt-as-if-he-hadn-t-slept-because-he_2607943.jpg) > ““He felt as if he hadn't slept because he spent all night wandering through the world looking for a maiden who bore his heart in her womb. His heart grew in her like a child. He was pregnant with his heart for a long time, for a year, for ten years, for a generation, for a hundred and two years. His heart grew bigger and bigger in her, and she grew bigger and bigger to accomodate the growth of his heart in her womb. He never knew when she would give birth to his heart and he lost her and searched the world over and never found her. His father, the king, told him that the world in which he searched for he was his heart, and that she was the mother of all the world, and that his search was over when it began, but he didn't know it.”” [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphorical quest where the heart’s yearning is projected onto a mother figure, symbolizing the search for meaning that is ultimately within oneself. **In simple terms:** Searching for love and purpose, only to realize it resides inside. Key Takeaway Recognize the inner source of love and purpose. Themes search love purpose self‑discovery spirituality Mood contemplative melancholic hopeful Type literary spiritual When to use this quote - therapy - spiritual practice - creative writing - relationship counseling Key Concepts Metaphor of heart as child inner journey self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - Where do you feel your ‘heart’ is searching? - What inner truths have you uncovered? A Different Perspective The allegory may be too abstract for concrete action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I found my bag, but found no money. I searched my wallet, yet found no coin. 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Some people called that place friendship; others called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslye-walton/for-a-very-long-time-viviane-and-jack-lived-in-that-world-people/) [Leslye Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslye-walton/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. 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