--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start…" description: "\"I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/james-thurber-1534_allergy_i-used-to-wake-up-at-4-a-m-and-start-sne_1701020.jpg" --- # I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes… ![“I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness.” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/james-thurber-1534_allergy_i-used-to-wake-up-at-4-a-m-and-start-sne_1701020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/james-thurber-1534_allergy_i-used-to-wake-up-at-4-a-m-and-start-sne_1701020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/james-thurber-1534_allergy_i-used-to-wake-up-at-4-a-m-and-start-sne_1701020.jpg) > “I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness.” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator humorously blames an abstract concept—consciousness—for persistent sneezing, highlighting existential absurdity. **In simple terms:** Blaming consciousness for endless sneezing. Key Takeaway Question the absurdity of over‑analysis. Themes humor existential absurdity health self‑reflection Mood witty light‑hearted Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - daily routine - medical mystery - creative writing - stress coping Key Concepts philosophical satire psychological metaphor Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever attribute personal problems to vague forces? - When does humor help you cope with discomfort? A Different Perspective The joke oversimplifies complex health issues and may trivialize genuine allergies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allergy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allergy/) [Allergy Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allergy-consciousness-1151185/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Sneezing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sneezing/) [Sneezing Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sneezing-hours-1151187/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Start Sneezing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-sneezing-1151186/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [If you take a reasonable amount of vitamin C regularly, the incidence of the common cold goes down. If you get a cold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/if-you-take-a-reasonable-amount-of-vitamin-c-regularly-the-incidence/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [“Allergies, it seems like everyone is developing them. I lived an allergy free life until I passed through a computed tomography X-ray scanner having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/allergies-it-seems-like-everyone-is-developing-them-i-lived-an/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I have an allergy to sequels and remakes in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/i-have-an-allergy-to-sequels-and-remakes-in-general/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [The difference between an itch and an allergy is about one hundred bucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-difference-between-an-itch-and-an-allergy-is-about-one-hundred/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a youth, I always did a good deal of reading in the summer months, having suffered since birth from an allergy to athletic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/as-a-youth-i-always-did-a-good-deal-of-reading-in-the-summer-months/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [Most politicians have to find a way past that allergy. They have to find a way to go door to door, person to person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/most-politicians-have-to-find-a-way-past-that-allergy-they-have-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [“ALLERGIC” TO EVERYTHING? If you’ve had a food allergy test done and the results showed allergies to 50 foods, chances are, you’re not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sanfilippo/allergic-to-everything-if-you-ve-had-a-food-allergy-test-done-and-the/) [Diane Sanfilippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sanfilippo/) > [“I seem to be allergic to whatever that terrible smell is," said Gateman when the urge to sneeze had finally subsided. "What terrible smell?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuthbert-soup/i-seem-to-be-allergic-to-whatever-that-terrible-smell-is-said-gateman/) [Cuthbert Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuthbert-soup/) > [The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is an institute of the National Institutes of Health that is responsible predominantly for basic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fauci/the-national-institute-of-allergy-and-infectious-diseases-is-an/) [Anthony Fauci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fauci/) > [My theory about L.A. is that it's almost like you have an allergy that's dormant and just need to be put in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-seder/my-theory-about-l-a-is-that-it-s-almost-like-you-have-an-allergy-that/) [Sam Seder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-seder/) > [Catholicism has the clerical equivalent to a nut allergy - even a small exposure to change, and the whole thing will go into anaphylactic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-brigstocke/catholicism-has-the-clerical-equivalent-to-a-nut-allergy-even-a-small/) [Marcus Brigstocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-brigstocke/) > [“You had me at 'blood allergy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-e-zapanta/you-had-me-at-blood-allergy/) [David S.E. Zapanta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-e-zapanta/) > [I have a nut allergy. When I was at school the other children used to make me play Russian roulette but force-feeding me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/i-have-a-nut-allergy-when-i-was-at-school-the-other-children-used-to/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) > [“Healing from toxic relationship trauma is like realizing you spent your entire life eating and having allergic reactions to rotten tomatoes when life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-storch/healing-from-toxic-relationship-trauma-is-like-realizing-you-spent/) [Pamela Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-storch/) > [I've got an allergy to looking too neat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-chung/i-ve-got-an-allergy-to-looking-too-neat/) [Alexa Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-chung/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Allergy quotes > [I've got an allergy to looking too neat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-chung/i-ve-got-an-allergy-to-looking-too-neat/) [Alexa Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-chung/) > [“Healing from toxic relationship trauma is like realizing you spent your entire life eating and having allergic reactions to rotten tomatoes when life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-storch/healing-from-toxic-relationship-trauma-is-like-realizing-you-spent/) [Pamela Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-storch/) > [I have a nut allergy. When I was at school the other children used to make me play Russian roulette but force-feeding me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/i-have-a-nut-allergy-when-i-was-at-school-the-other-children-used-to/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) > [“You had me at 'blood allergy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-e-zapanta/you-had-me-at-blood-allergy/) [David S.E. Zapanta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-e-zapanta/) > [Catholicism has the clerical equivalent to a nut allergy - even a small exposure to change, and the whole thing will go into anaphylactic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-brigstocke/catholicism-has-the-clerical-equivalent-to-a-nut-allergy-even-a-small/) [Marcus Brigstocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-brigstocke/) > [My theory about L.A. is that it's almost like you have an allergy that's dormant and just need to be put in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-seder/my-theory-about-l-a-is-that-it-s-almost-like-you-have-an-allergy-that/) [Sam Seder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-seder/) > [The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is an institute of the National Institutes of Health that is responsible predominantly for basic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fauci/the-national-institute-of-allergy-and-infectious-diseases-is-an/) [Anthony Fauci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fauci/) > [“I seem to be allergic to whatever that terrible smell is," said Gateman when the urge to sneeze had finally subsided. "What terrible smell?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuthbert-soup/i-seem-to-be-allergic-to-whatever-that-terrible-smell-is-said-gateman/) [Cuthbert Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuthbert-soup/) > [“ALLERGIC” TO EVERYTHING? If you’ve had a food allergy test done and the results showed allergies to 50 foods, chances are, you’re not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sanfilippo/allergic-to-everything-if-you-ve-had-a-food-allergy-test-done-and-the/) [Diane Sanfilippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sanfilippo/) > [Most politicians have to find a way past that allergy. They have to find a way to go door to door, person to person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/most-politicians-have-to-find-a-way-past-that-allergy-they-have-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [As a youth, I always did a good deal of reading in the summer months, having suffered since birth from an allergy to athletic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/as-a-youth-i-always-did-a-good-deal-of-reading-in-the-summer-months/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [The difference between an itch and an allergy is about one hundred bucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-difference-between-an-itch-and-an-allergy-is-about-one-hundred/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have an allergy to sequels and remakes in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/i-have-an-allergy-to-sequels-and-remakes-in-general/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [About 20 per cent of the population believe themselves to have a food allergy and only about five per cent actually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warner/about-20-per-cent-of-the-population-believe-themselves-to-have-a-food/) [John Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warner/) > [“Allergy is not all the time bad, Am Allergic to the Holy Spirit, it makes me want more of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-asumadu-sarkodie/allergy-is-not-all-the-time-bad-am-allergic-to-the-holy-spirit-it/) [Samuel Asumadu-Sarkodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-asumadu-sarkodie/) [Browse all 21 Allergy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allergy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. 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