Sleep Quote by Iris Murdoch
““When the sun was set I might perhaps go to sleep. I never let myself sleep during the day. Daytime sleep is a cursed slumber from which one wakes in despair. The sun will not tolerate it. If he can he will pry under your eyelids and prise them apart; and if you hang black curtains at your windows he will lay siege to your room until it is so stifling that at last you stagger with staring eyes to the window and tear back the curtains to see that most terrible of sights, the broad daylight outside a room where you have been sleeping.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Sea, the Sea, Iris Murdoch, 1978
The passage warns that sleeping during daylight is unnatural and harmful, suggesting that the sun’s presence forces us to stay awake and confront reality.
In simple terms: Daytime sleep feels wrong and leads to despair; the sun forces wakefulness.
Key Takeaway
Avoid sleeping in daylight to stay healthy.
Themes
health
routine
nature
Mood
reflective
cautionary
Type
advice
literary
When to use this quote
- work schedules
- school
- night shift workers
- travel across time zones
Key Concepts
circadian rhythm
sunlight
sleep hygiene
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you feel more alert after a short nap?
- How does sunlight affect your mood?
A Different Perspective
Some cultures value siestas, showing daylight sleep can be beneficial in certain contexts.
