--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is that people can't sleep…" description: "\"“The problem is that people can't sleep when they want to, but if they are forbidden to do so, they can't help dropping off. So the method consisted of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/fred-vargas-24265_eyes-wide-open_the-problem-is-that-people-can-t-sleep-w_1070374.jpg" --- # The problem is that people can't sleep when they want to… ![“The problem is that people can't sleep when they want to, but if they are forbidden to do so, they can't help dropping off. So the method consisted of keeping your eyes wide open and fixing your gaze on some point of the bedroom wall. If by any chance you shut your eyes, hundreds of nasty little…” quote by Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/fred-vargas-24265_eyes-wide-open_the-problem-is-that-people-can-t-sleep-w_1070374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/fred-vargas-24265_eyes-wide-open_the-problem-is-that-people-can-t-sleep-w_1070374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/fred-vargas-24265_eyes-wide-open_the-problem-is-that-people-can-t-sleep-w_1070374.jpg) > ““The problem is that people can't sleep when they want to, but if they are forbidden to do so, they can't help dropping off. So the method consisted of keeping your eyes wide open and fixing your gaze on some point of the bedroom wall. If by any chance you shut your eyes, hundreds of nasty little demons would pour out of the spot and eat you up. And you are absolutely not allowed to treat this as a joke.. According to Marc, you invariably fall asleep after ten minutes max, unless of course you replace the little devils with little fairies, which would stop you falling asleep at all.”” [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Keeping eyes open and focusing on a point prevents sleep, but imagination can turn the method into a nightmare or a fairy tale. **In simple terms:** Staring at a wall stops sleep; imagination changes the effect. Key Takeaway Use focused attention to stay awake, but watch mental imagery. Themes sleep focus imagination selfcontrol Mood anxious determined Type advice psychological When to use this quote - night shift workers - insomnia treatment - meditation - study sessions - travel Key Concepts psychology habit formation mental imagery Questions to Reflect On - Can you stay alert without distress? - What mental images help you stay awake? A Different Perspective Method may cause anxiety or hypervigilance if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eyes wide open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-wide-open/) [Falling asleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-asleep/) [Insomnia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insomnia/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sleeplessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeplessness/) ## Related quotes > [“I shut my eyes tightly, willing myself to go back to sleep. I want to go back to my dream, back to Caleb. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-roberts/i-shut-my-eyes-tightly-willing-myself-to-go-back-to-sleep-i-want-to/) [C.J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-roberts/) > [If you put me in 'South Park,' that audience is going to fall asleep in five minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/if-you-put-me-in-south-park-that-audience-is-going-to-fall-asleep-in/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [The happiest people among us are those who can sleep when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-sufyan-ibn-harb/the-happiest-people-among-us-are-those-who-can-sleep-when-they-want-to/) [Abu Sufyan ibn Harb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-sufyan-ibn-harb/) > [“Sometime during the night, I roused enough to reach sleepily for Quinn. He’s not here, my subconscious grumbled, and I came completely awake. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinnean/sometime-during-the-night-i-roused-enough-to-reach-sleepily-for-quinn/) [Tinnean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinnean/) > [Oh, sleep. I want you so bad. Why do you run from me? I love you. I need you. Come back to me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-sleep-i-want-you-so-bad-why-do-you-run-from-me-i-love-you-i-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I go to sleep, I want to know that I have experimented as an actor, and I am constantly seeking to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumi-pednekar/when-i-go-to-sleep-i-want-to-know-that-i-have-experimented-as-an/) [Bhumi Pednekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumi-pednekar/) > [I love to cry. It's such a great release. If I'm just tired - jetlagged, I didn't get any sleep, I want to cry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-diaz/i-love-to-cry-it-s-such-a-great-release-if-i-m-just-tired-jetlagged-i/) [Cameron Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-diaz/) > [“In that case, maybe you‘d be so kind as to leave me alone and let me sleep?" "I want to talk to you." Lords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-scott/in-that-case-maybe-you-d-be-so-kind-as-to-leave-me-alone-and-let-me/) [M.J. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-scott/) > [“Colton?” “Yeah?” he asks, not sounding any more awake than he sounded minutes ago. “I can’t go back to sleep.” “Do you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora-rose-reynolds/colton-yeah-he-asks-not-sounding-any-more-awake-than-he-sounded/) [Aurora Rose Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora-rose-reynolds/) > [“I am so tired; all I want to do is sleep. I want to sleep all the day, from dawn until twilight that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-am-so-tired-all-i-want-to-do-is-sleep-i-want-to-sleep-all-the-day/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Do they sleep? I want to know...am I the only one who doesn't sleep?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/do-they-sleep-i-want-to-know-am-i-the-only-one-who-doesn-t-sleep/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Sometimes we sleep because we want to, sometimes because we need it, and sometimes we sleep in self-defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-hodge/sometimes-we-sleep-because-we-want-to-sometimes-because-we-need-it/) [Brian Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-hodge/) > [I neither want to sleep nor do I want to remain awaken. What do I want? I just want to dream!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/i-neither-want-to-sleep-nor-do-i-want-to-remain-awaken-what-do-i-want/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/don-t-believe-all-you-hear-spend-all-you-have-or-sleep-all-you-want/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I just want to get paid to lay down, wake up when I want to wake up, go to sleep when I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blueface/i-just-want-to-get-paid-to-lay-down-wake-up-when-i-want-to-wake-up-go/) [Blueface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blueface/) ## More by Fred Vargas > [in extreme circumstances I think embarrassment is a luxury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/in-extreme-circumstances-i-think-embarrassment-is-a-luxury/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [“Josh didn't trust inanimates; not one bit; but he didn’t trust men either, nor did he trust the sea. The first could drive you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/josh-didn-t-trust-inanimates-not-one-bit-but-he-didn-t-trust-men/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [I'm not just anybody.' 'No, indeed. Nobody is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/i-m-not-just-anybody-no-indeed-nobody-is/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [“Nothing to say. I used to be a ghostwriter for a publisher.’ ‘Medieval stuff?’ ‘Eighty-page love stories. You have this guy, untrustworthy but good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/nothing-to-say-i-used-to-be-a-ghostwriter-for-a-publisher-medieval/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [The world of fantasy fills the gaps in people's knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/the-world-of-fantasy-fills-the-gaps-in-people-s-knowledge/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [“Uno sa sempre qual e' la sua decisione prima ancora di averla presa. In realta', lo sa fin dall'inizio. Ecco perche' i consigli non…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/uno-sa-sempre-qual-e-la-sua-decisione-prima-ancora-di-averla-presa-in/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [“He's a Canadian. I've not much more to say about him." "Isn't he a tall, fit, strapping fellow? A handsome guy, a good-looker with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/he-s-a-canadian-i-ve-not-much-more-to-say-about-him-isn-t-he-a-tall/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [“The world’s full of details, have you noticed? And since no detail is ever repeated in exactly the same shape and always sets off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/the-world-s-full-of-details-have-you-noticed-and-since-no-detail-is/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) > [ADAMSBERG WAS NOT A MAN WHO WENT IN FOR EMOTION: he skirted around strong feelings with caution, like swifts who only brush past windows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vargas/adamsberg-was-not-a-man-who-went-in-for-emotion-he-skirted-around/) [Fred Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) [Explore all 10 Fred Vargas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vargas/) ## More Bedroom wall quotes > [A handwritten Declaration of Independence was on my bedroom wall and the Founding Fathers were above my desk in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/a-handwritten-declaration-of-independence-was-on-my-bedroom-wall-and/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [“Her bedroom walls are covered with magazine pictures, so that the walls don't end at the walls. They go outward, to a dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-dellaira/her-bedroom-walls-are-covered-with-magazine-pictures-so-that-the/) [Ava Dellaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-dellaira/) > [ I'm convinced I was the only kid ever who had a Death on the Nile \[1978\] movie poster and a Murder on the Orient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-m-convinced-i-was-the-only-kid-ever-who-had-a-death-on-the-nile/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [“Except Caitlyn. High school dating, drill team, school spirit—it all seemed silly to her. Why did it feel like high school was crushing her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-cach/except-caitlyn-high-school-dating-drill-team-school-spirit-it-all/) [Lisa Cach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-cach/) > [I've been inspired by people's work, but I never grew up with posters on my bedroom wall or obsessed with one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fka-twigs/i-ve-been-inspired-by-people-s-work-but-i-never-grew-up-with-posters/) [FKA twigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fka-twigs/) > [When I think of sex symbols, I think of posters my two sisters had on their bedroom walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/when-i-think-of-sex-symbols-i-think-of-posters-my-two-sisters-had-on/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [“But I’m gay and in a relationship with a hot Viking king and we have a bible thumper… thumping his bible against our bedroom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-celeste/but-i-m-gay-and-in-a-relationship-with-a-hot-viking-king-and-we-have/) [Mercy Celeste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-celeste/) > [The humming of my parents' voices from behind my bedroom wall, which throughout my childhood had filled me with a sense of security, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-humming-of-my-parents-voices-from-behind-my-bedroom-wall-which/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Loving a band with all your heart is something you understand when it happens to you. On the surface, others can see it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gaskarth/loving-a-band-with-all-your-heart-is-something-you-understand-when-it/) [Alex Gaskarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gaskarth/) > [“In particularly trying times, Crosby would look to a handful of motivational sayings and poems he had collected over the years. They helped him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawna-richer/in-particularly-trying-times-crosby-would-look-to-a-handful-of/) [Shawna Richer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawna-richer/) > [What will you do with them?" "Redo them in charcoal, probably." "And then?" "Tack them to my bedroom wall." Bedroom wall? "Who wouldn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/what-will-you-do-with-them-redo-them-in-charcoal-probably-and-then/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [I'm recording our history now on the bedroom wall, and when we leave the landlord will come and paint over it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-m-recording-our-history-now-on-the-bedroom-wall-and-when-we-leave/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [“It really should be a criminal offense for an electrician to mount a breaker box on a bedroom wall. Unfortunately, I see the solar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-really-should-be-a-criminal-offense-for-an-electrician-to-mount-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“My son was something of a disciple of flying things. On his bedroom wall were posters of fighter planes and wild birds. A model…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brockmeier/my-son-was-something-of-a-disciple-of-flying-things-on-his-bedroom/) [Kevin Brockmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brockmeier/) > [The saving of empty beer and liquor bottles is a strange college phenomenon. I bet most of you college students reading this right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-karo/the-saving-of-empty-beer-and-liquor-bottles-is-a-strange-college/) [Aaron Karo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-karo/) Browse all 54 Bedroom wall quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The problem is that people can't sleep when they want to, but if they are forbidden to do so, they can't help dropping off. So the method consisted of keeping your eyes wide open and fixing your gaze on some point of the bedroom wall. If by any chance you shut your eyes, hundreds of nasty little demons would pour out of the spot and eat you up. 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