--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those ever more frequent nights when his…" description: "\"“Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became unbearable and he took solace in wine he would sometimes stand outside his tent holding his..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/ernest-k-gann-22818_quote_those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his_564552.jpg" --- # Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became… ![“Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became unbearable and he took solace in wine he would sometimes stand outside his tent holding his cup toward the great mass as if it lived and was then only slumbering beneath the stars. Drunk and bemused at its enormous dimensions he would…” quote by Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/ernest-k-gann-22818_quote_those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his_564552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/ernest-k-gann-22818_quote_those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his_564552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/ernest-k-gann-22818_quote_those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his_564552.jpg) > ““Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became unbearable and he took solace in wine he would sometimes stand outside his tent holding his cup toward the great mass as if it lived and was then only slumbering beneath the stars. Drunk and bemused at its enormous dimensions he would mumble words at it, reaching out as if he could touch it. “Hail, you sleeping elephant—what would happen if you farted? Roll over, mighty carbuncle on the face of the earth, and dump the Jews in the sea of salt. I will live to crown you, Masada, with a wreath of my urine.”” [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage uses surreal, dark humor to express existential loneliness and the absurdity of human attempts to dominate nature. **In simple terms:** Loneliness leads to bizarre, dark jokes about power over nature. Key Takeaway Recognize humor as a coping mechanism for isolation. Themes loneliness absurdity human-nature relationship dark humor Mood melancholic ironic reflective Type literary satirical When to use this quote - solitary travel - nighttime reflection - drinking alone - creative writing Key Concepts existentialism psychology literary satire Questions to Reflect On - What does the absurdity reveal about human vulnerability? - How does humor help cope with isolation? A Different Perspective May trivialize serious emotional distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ## Related quotes > [My dad was proud of himself when he farted. He sounds like he's strangling a chicken when he farts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-barron/my-dad-was-proud-of-himself-when-he-farted-he-sounds-like-he-s/) Carl Barron > [I always just farted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-always-just-farted/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [It would be nice if people said, God bless you not just when you sneezed but also when you farted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/it-would-be-nice-if-people-said-god-bless-you-not-just-when-you/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [We had a teacher, named Mr. Brown, and he was writing something on the board once - he was writing something on the board,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/we-had-a-teacher-named-mr-brown-and-he-was-writing-something-on-the/) [Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/) > [“Mom stopped reading, closed the book, and started laughing her ass off. Behind her a bunch of old dudes reading newspapers looked up at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-sorrells/mom-stopped-reading-closed-the-book-and-started-laughing-her-ass-off/) [Walter Sorrells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-sorrells/) > [“The girdle went from just under my breasts to the top of my knees. It cinched me in pretty tight. In fact, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-gross/the-girdle-went-from-just-under-my-breasts-to-the-top-of-my-knees-it/) [Mollie Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-gross/) > [When I did 'Alice by Heart,' on one of the lifts, I farted a little bit and everyone heard it in the theater. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-gordon/when-i-did-alice-by-heart-on-one-of-the-lifts-i-farted-a-little-bit/) [Molly Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-gordon/) > [This is my I farted facee CX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/this-is-my-i-farted-facee-cx/) Patience > [“She was so cold, she probably farted ice cubes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-lynn-shultz/she-was-so-cold-she-probably-farted-ice-cubes/) [Cara Lynn Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-lynn-shultz/) > [“standing in front of a creeper. I turned round and farted at it, the traditional creeper greeting. A fart is about as close as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diary-wimpy/standing-in-front-of-a-creeper-i-turned-round-and-farted-at-it-the/) [Diary Wimpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diary-wimpy/) > [Admit it, you've farted & blamed it on somebody else before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/admit-it-you-ve-farted-blamed-it-on-somebody-else-before/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our camels plodded along. Katrina tried to kiss, or possibly spit on Hindenburg, and Hindenburg farted in response. I found this a depressing commentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/our-camels-plodded-along-katrina-tried-to-kiss-or-possibly-spit-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“The old man was in agony because of gas. He farted tremendously, and then he belched.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-old-man-was-in-agony-because-of-gas-he-farted-tremendously-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Since Jesus was human then he most assuredly farted and burped. And if God did create us in God's image then God must fart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/since-jesus-was-human-then-he-most-assuredly-farted-and-burped-and-if/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Akiko was in a meeting with her superior officers when she farted and tore a hole in her chair. The fart was so powerful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tieryas/akiko-was-in-a-meeting-with-her-superior-officers-when-she-farted-and/) [Peter Tieryas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tieryas/) ## More by Ernest K. Gann > [Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are willing victims to the spell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/flying-is-hypnotic-and-all-pilots-are-willing-victims-to-the-spell/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Fear breeds upon itself because it is a hermaphrodite capable of endless reproduction. Fear is a contagious disease, spreading from its first victim to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/fear-breeds-upon-itself-because-it-is-a-hermaphrodite-capable-of/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [MaCleod, since you've flown the SeaBee a lot you'll understand when I say it was the only airplane I ever owned that you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/macleod-since-you-ve-flown-the-seabee-a-lot-you-ll-understand-when-i/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [There is no more alluring airspace in the world than the slit up a China girl's dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/there-is-no-more-alluring-airspace-in-the-world-than-the-slit-up-a/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [As the years go by, he returns to this invisible world rather than to earth for peace and solace. There also he finds a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/as-the-years-go-by-he-returns-to-this-invisible-world-rather-than-to/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are victims to the spell. Their world is like a magic island in which the factors of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/flying-is-hypnotic-and-all-pilots-are-victims-to-the-spell-their/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Anyone can do the job when things are going right. In this business we play for keeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/anyone-can-do-the-job-when-things-are-going-right-in-this-business-we/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The emergencies you train for almost never happen. It's the one you can't train for that kills you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-emergencies-you-train-for-almost-never-happen-it-s-the-one-you/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The men in this book are fictitious characters but their counterparts can be found in cockpits all over the world. Now they are flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-men-in-this-book-are-fictitious-characters-but-their-counterparts/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Rule books are paper - they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/rule-books-are-paper-they-will-not-cushion-a-sudden-meeting-of-stone/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [It doesn't look nearly as big as it did the first time I saw one. Mickey McGuire and I used to sit hour after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did-the-first-time-i-saw-one/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [During this period Steen and Fox were killed trying a single-engine instrument approach at Moline. Then Campbell and Leatherman hit a ridge near Elko,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/during-this-period-steen-and-fox-were-killed-trying-a-single-engine/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The air is annoyingly potted with a multitude of minor vertical disturbances which sicken the passengers and keep us captives of our seat belts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-air-is-annoyingly-potted-with-a-multitude-of-minor-vertical/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [It's when things are going just right that you'd better be suspicious. There you are, fat as can be. The whole world is yours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-s-when-things-are-going-just-right-that-you-d-better-be-suspicious/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [It's remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-s-remarkable-how-quickly-a-good-and-favorable-wind-can-sweep-away/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Explore all 27 Ernest K. Gann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) ## More Mind quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 43,542 Mind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became unbearable and he took solace in wine he would sometimes stand outside his tent holding his cup toward the great mass as if it lived and was then only slumbering beneath the stars. Drunk and bemused at its enormous dimensions he would mumble words at it, reaching out as if he could touch it. “Hail, you sleeping elephant—what would happen if you farted? Roll over, mighty carbuncle on the face of the earth, and dump the Jews in the sea of salt. I will live to crown you, Masada, with a wreath of my urine.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest K. Gann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his-loneliness-became-unbearable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mind" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his-loneliness-became-unbearable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/ernest-k-gann-22818_quote_those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his_564552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/ernest-k-gann-22818_quote_those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his_564552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/ernest-k-gann-22818_quote_those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his_564552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became unbearable and he took solace in wine he would…” — Ernest K. Gann", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ernest K. Gann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Those ever more frequent nights when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his-loneliness-became-unbearable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his-loneliness-became-unbearable/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```