--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a pretty complete list. The kind…" description: "\"It was a pretty complete list. The kind of list one makes when one cannot fall asleep because one's thoughts keep swirling through one's brain like a b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/james-patterson-171_brain_it-was-a-pretty-complete-list-the-kind-o_459671.png" --- # It was a pretty complete list. The kind of list one makes… ![“It was a pretty complete list. The kind of list one makes when one cannot fall asleep because one's thoughts keep swirling through one's brain like a bunch of sparrows on crack.” quote by James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/james-patterson-171_brain_it-was-a-pretty-complete-list-the-kind-o_459671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/james-patterson-171_brain_it-was-a-pretty-complete-list-the-kind-o_459671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/james-patterson-171_brain_it-was-a-pretty-complete-list-the-kind-o_459671.png) > “It was a pretty complete list. The kind of list one makes when one cannot fall asleep because one's thoughts keep swirling through one's brain like a bunch of sparrows on crack.” [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A restless mind fills with chaotic thoughts, making sleep impossible. **In simple terms:** Racing thoughts prevent sleep. Key Takeaway Calm the mind before bed. Themes insomnia mental chaos sleep stress thoughts Mood frustrated restless Type advice reflective When to use this quote - late night work - anxiety - creative brainstorming Key Concepts mindfulness sleep hygiene meditation Questions to Reflect On - How can you quiet your mind? - What techniques help you settle thoughts? A Different Perspective Thoughts may be productive if channeled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Sparrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparrows/) ## Related quotes > [I love the way a list makes a big hodgepodge of things simmer down and behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blue-balliett/i-love-the-way-a-list-makes-a-big-hodgepodge-of-things-simmer-down/) [Blue Balliett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blue-balliett/) > [Most nights I stay up past 1 AM. I am tired and I want to sleep, but I can't because my mind runs like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-nights-i-stay-up-past-1-am-i-am-tired-and-i-want-to-sleep-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What else could I be? If I were a mono-thinker, I probably wouldn’t be an insomniac. How is a poly-thinker supposed to fall asleep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/what-else-could-i-be-if-i-were-a-mono-thinker-i-probably-wouldn-t-be/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [“If I fell asleep, those thoughts would twist themselves into rivers of blood as real as the mud in my sheets when I first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia-and-margret-stohl/if-i-fell-asleep-those-thoughts-would-twist-themselves-into-rivers-of/) [Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia-and-margret-stohl/) > [Who, last time I'd checked, was still on our official archenemy list. (Yes, we have to keep a list. It's kind of sad.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/who-last-time-i-d-checked-was-still-on-our-official-archenemy-list/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/please-god-ruth-would-pray-don-t-let-me-be-competitive-let-me-realize/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-once-had-a-sparrow-alight-upon-my-shoulder-for-a-moment-while-i-was/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-is-special-providence-in-the-fall-of-a-sparrow/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Pastor Veronica told the story of a sparrow lying in the street with its legs straight up in the air, straining. a warhorse walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/pastor-veronica-told-the-story-of-a-sparrow-lying-in-the-street-with/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I am only a sparrow amongst a great flock of sparrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evita-peron/i-am-only-a-sparrow-amongst-a-great-flock-of-sparrows/) [Evita Peron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evita-peron/) > [Mr. David Stockman has said that supply-side economics was merely a cover for the trickle-down approach to economic policy—what an older and less elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/mr-david-stockman-has-said-that-supply-side-economics-was-merely-a/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Blow kisses to the oak trees and sparrows and elephants and weeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/blow-kisses-to-the-oak-trees-and-sparrows-and-elephants-and-weeds/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [My sparrow, she flickers and wakes and sings and sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ann-sandell/my-sparrow-she-flickers-and-wakes-and-sings-and-sings/) [Lisa Ann Sandell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ann-sandell/) > [I can't keep the sparrows from flying around my head, but I can keep them from making a nest in my hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-can-t-keep-the-sparrows-from-flying-around-my-head-but-i-can-keep/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) ## More by James Patterson > [It was a little weird that they were friends. But then, maybe freaks just tended to find each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-a-little-weird-that-they-were-friends-but-then-maybe-freaks/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“The next forty-five minutes in that office was about as much fun as a day at Disney World—when it’s pouring rain. And all there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-next-forty-five-minutes-in-that-office-was-about-as-much-fun-as-a/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [You're lying through your fangs," Iggy accused. 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I shot him the—never mind.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-shot-him-the-bird-get-it-i-shot-him-the-never-mind/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I get up every morning and chop wood, and I pretty much do it seven days a week, and I like to do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-get-up-every-morning-and-chop-wood-and-i-pretty-much-do-it-seven/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Witihin seconds the headhunter had lost control of his car and it squealed, sliding sideways right into several other cars. Cool!' said the Gasman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/witihin-seconds-the-headhunter-had-lost-control-of-his-car-and-it/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“It was scary. More than Sara could possibly know. More than anybody ought to know, or ever would. 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I asked him if he was going to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-my-son-jack-was-four-i-had-to-make-a-trip-to-los-angeles-i-asked/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“that kid’s nothing but a little hoodlum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/that-kid-s-nothing-but-a-little-hoodlum/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Jeezum—humans were like eggshells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/jeezum-humans-were-like-eggshells/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) [Explore all 983 James Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. 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I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. 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