Bed Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Egyptian Proverb: The worst things: To be in bed and sleep not, To want for one who comes not, To try to please and please not.”
About This Quote
The proverb lists three futile pursuits: restless insomnia, unrequited longing, and futile attempts to please, highlighting the emptiness of such efforts.
In simple terms: Being stuck in bed, longing for someone absent, and trying to please without success are pointless.
Key Takeaway
Focus on realistic goals and let go of impossible desires.
Themes
loneliness
desire
frustration
sleep
effort
Mood
melancholy
contemplative
somber
Type
proverbial
philosophical
When to use this quote
- nighttime anxiety
- unrequited love
- people-pleasing habits
Key Concepts
existential futility
human longing
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we cling to impossible tasks?
- What can replace futile pursuits with meaningful actions?
A Different Perspective
It may not capture positive aspects of perseverance.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
