Broken promises Quote by George R.R. Martin
““Ned closed his eyes and opened them; it made no difference. He slept and woke and slept again. He did not know which was more painful, the waking or the sleeping. When he slept, he dreamed: dark disturbing dreams of blood and broken promises. When he woke, there was nothing to do but think, and his waking thoughts were worse than nightmares.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin, 2000
A character is trapped in a cycle of painful waking and sleepless dreaming, where both states are tormenting.
In simple terms: Both waking and sleeping are sources of suffering.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and confront inner turmoil.
Themes
suffering
existential dread
dreams
awakening
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- mental health
- creative writing
- character analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate between mental anguish and physical pain?
- What coping mechanisms can break this cycle?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize suffering, ignoring resilience.
