--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ned closed his eyes and opened them; it…" description: "\"“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 t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/george-r-r-martin-48_slept_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1394028.png" --- # Ned closed his eyes and opened them; it made no… ![“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.” quote by George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/george-r-r-martin-48_slept_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1394028.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/george-r-r-martin-48_slept_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1394028.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/george-r-r-martin-48_slept_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1394028.png) > ““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.”” [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sleep and waking blur; pain exists in both states, making distinction meaningless. **In simple terms:** Sleep and wake both bring pain. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty of consciousness. Themes existence pain perception Mood melancholic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - therapy - creative writing - dream analysis Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does this say about the value of consciousness? - How can we find meaning amid inevitable pain? A Different Perspective May cause nihilistic outlook. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Ned closed his eyes and opened them; it made no difference. He slept and woke and slept again. He did not know which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-made-no-difference-he-slept/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [He did not know which was more painful, the waking or the sleeping. 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