--- 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/1aa/george-r-r-martin-48_broken-promises_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1151091.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. When he slept, he dreamed: dark disturbing dreams of blood and broken promises. When he woke, there was nothing to do but think, and…” quote by George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/george-r-r-martin-48_broken-promises_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1151091.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/george-r-r-martin-48_broken-promises_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1151091.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/george-r-r-martin-48_broken-promises_ned-closed-his-eyes-and-opened-them-it-m_1151091.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. 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.”” [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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broken promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-promises/) [Dark Disturbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-disturbing-227035/) [Difference Slept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-slept-3254564/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Painful Waking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful-waking-3254567/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Slept Woke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slept-woke-3254566/) [Think Waking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-waking-2325032/) [Worse Nightmares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-nightmares-3254565/) ## Related quotes > [He did not know which was more painful, the waking or the sleeping. 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You can't just dismiss it as one more example of American pop culture grotesque.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-goldman/donald-trump-is-seriously-dark-and-disturbing-you-can-t-just-dismiss/) [Francisco Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-goldman/) > [I've always been drawn to dark, disturbing characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-lindberg/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-dark-disturbing-characters/) [Chad Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-lindberg/) ## More by George R.R. Martin > [“Neither's the one you get, less you want me to see if your apple's ripe, yet. - Yoren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/neither-s-the-one-you-get-less-you-want-me-to-see-if-your-apple-s/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“You are the queen, he ought to be begging leave of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/you-are-the-queen-he-ought-to-be-begging-leave-of-you/) [George R.R. 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Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## More Broken promises quotes > [When you are not there in my life its like: Shoes without shoe laces A letter without a stamp A flower with no roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-not-there-in-my-life-its-like-shoes-without-shoe-laces-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are important to another person, they will always find a way to make time for you - no excuses, no lies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-important-to-another-person-they-will-always-find-a-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You took my happiness with you and left this horrible sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-took-my-happiness-with-you-and-left-this-horrible-sadness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Break up was not made for you to cry.. But to take you away from the wrong man who you thought was the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/break-up-was-not-made-for-you-to-cry-but-to-take-you-away-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im afraid of being forgotten. Because, it seems everyone I get close to, ends up forgetting me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/im-afraid-of-being-forgotten-because-it-seems-everyone-i-get-close-to/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [“Nothing is worse than broken promises.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-amis/nothing-is-worse-than-broken-promises/) [Lily Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-amis/) > [People nowadays act like promises are meant to be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-nowadays-act-like-promises-are-meant-to-be-broken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Hours Turned into Days. 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