--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He falls asleep quickly. I lie awake and…" description: "\"“He falls asleep quickly. I lie awake and listen to lights being switched off all over the town. Whispered goodnights. The drowsy creak of bedsprings. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/jenny-downham-3127_before-i-die_he-falls-asleep-quickly-i-lie-awake-and_502999.jpg" --- # He falls asleep quickly. I lie awake and listen to lights… ![“He falls asleep quickly. I lie awake and listen to lights being switched off all over the town. Whispered goodnights. The drowsy creak of bedsprings. I find Adam’s hand and hold it tight. I’m glad that night porters and nurses and long-distance lorry drivers exist. It comforts me to know that in…” quote by Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/jenny-downham-3127_before-i-die_he-falls-asleep-quickly-i-lie-awake-and_502999.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/jenny-downham-3127_before-i-die_he-falls-asleep-quickly-i-lie-awake-and_502999.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/jenny-downham-3127_before-i-die_he-falls-asleep-quickly-i-lie-awake-and_502999.jpg) > ““He falls asleep quickly. I lie awake and listen to lights being switched off all over the town. Whispered goodnights. The drowsy creak of bedsprings. I find Adam’s hand and hold it tight. I’m glad that night porters and nurses and long-distance lorry drivers exist. It comforts me to know that in other countries with different time zones, women are washing clothes in rivers and children are filing to school. Somewhere in the world right now, a boy is listening to the merry chink of a goat’s bell as he walks up a mountain. I’m very glad about that.”” [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) ## 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 finds comfort in the shared humanity of strangers across the globe, realizing that life continues in many places even as she faces personal turmoil. **In simple terms:** Knowing others live on gives her solace. Key Takeaway Find peace in the world’s ongoing rhythm. Themes connection solace global awareness comfort perspective Mood reflective hopeful calm Type narrative contemplative inspirational When to use this quote - nighttime anxiety - grief - loneliness - seeking meaning - cultural reflection Key Concepts interdependence shared experience empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing others’ routines affect your own grief? - What comforts you most about shared human experience? A Different Perspective The focus on distant lives may distract from addressing one’s own pain directly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Before i die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before-i-die/) ## Related quotes > [I am very glad indeed to see you to-night, and yet I will not say I thank you for this call, but I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-very-glad-indeed-to-see-you-to-night-and-yet-i-will-not-say-i/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Maybe you should say goodbye, Cal.' 'No.' 'It might be important.' 'It might make her die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/maybe-you-should-say-goodbye-cal-no-it-might-be-important-it-might/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [It's all right, Tessa, you can go. We love you. You can go now.' 'Why are you saying that?' 'She might need permission to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/it-s-all-right-tessa-you-can-go-we-love-you-you-can-go-now-why-are/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [Every seven years our bodies change, every cell. Every seven years, we disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/every-seven-years-our-bodies-change-every-cell-every-seven-years-we/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“I sit up in bed and watch her fiddle about in the back of my wardrobe. I think she's got a plan. That's what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/i-sit-up-in-bed-and-watch-her-fiddle-about-in-the-back-of-my-wardrobe/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“Instructions for Dad. I don't want to go into a fridge at an undertaker's. I want you to keep me at home until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/instructions-for-dad-i-don-t-want-to-go-into-a-fridge-at-an/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [That slow smile again. I love that smile! DId I think he was ugly just now? No, his face is transformed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/that-slow-smile-again-i-love-that-smile-did-i-think-he-was-ugly-just/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [It is the just doom of laziness and gluttony to be inactive without ease and drowsy without tranquility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-the-just-doom-of-laziness-and-gluttony-to-be-inactive-without/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Presently, we were aware of an odour gradually coming towards us, something musky, fiery, savoury, mysterious, - a hot drowsy smell, that lulls the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/presently-we-were-aware-of-an-odour-gradually-coming-towards-us/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Once out of nature I shall never take My bodily form from any natural thing, But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/once-out-of-nature-i-shall-never-take-my-bodily-form-from-any-natural/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [In the drowsy dark cave of the mind dreams build their nest with fragments dropped from day's caravan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/in-the-drowsy-dark-cave-of-the-mind-dreams-build-their-nest-with/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“drowsy at an earlier hour. Nevertheless, try to soothe your baby to sleep at an earlier hour even if she does not show”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-weissbluth/drowsy-at-an-earlier-hour-nevertheless-try-to-soothe-your-baby-to/) [Marc Weissbluth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-weissbluth/) > [You have no idea, unless you have tried it, how endlessly long is a summer's day, that you measure out only by hunger, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/you-have-no-idea-unless-you-have-tried-it-how-endlessly-long-is-a/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. Good sleep they sought for themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/now-know-i-well-what-people-sought-formerly-above-all-else-when-they/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) ## More by Jenny Downham > [“We'll kill him on the green with a five iron.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/we-ll-kill-him-on-the-green-with-a-five-iron/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“Sklupčam se u podnožju stubišta. To je mjesto gdje mačka sjedi kad hoće da se ljudi spotaknu preko nje. Uvijek sam htjela biti mačka.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/sklup-am-se-u-podno-ju-stubi-ta-to-je-mjesto-gdje-ma-ka-sjedi-kad-ho/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [It's as if a child with a brush and too much enthusiasm has been set free with a tin of black paint inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/it-s-as-if-a-child-with-a-brush-and-too-much-enthusiasm-has-been-set/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [It was strange how words meant something when they came out of your mouth. Inside your head they were safe and silent, but once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/it-was-strange-how-words-meant-something-when-they-came-out-of-your/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“I sit up in bed and watch her fiddle about in the back of my wardrobe. I think she's got a plan. That's what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/i-sit-up-in-bed-and-watch-her-fiddle-about-in-the-back-of-my-wardrobe/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“I wish I had a boyfriend. I wish he lived in the wardrobe on a coat hanger. Whenever I wanted, I could get him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/i-wish-i-had-a-boyfriend-i-wish-he-lived-in-the-wardrobe-on-a-coat/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [Life is made up of a series of moments, each one a journey to the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/life-is-made-up-of-a-series-of-moments-each-one-a-journey-to-the-end/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [All I know is that I have two choices – stay wrapped in blankets and get on with dying, or get the list back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/all-i-know-is-that-i-have-two-choices-stay-wrapped-in-blankets-and/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [We make patterns, we share moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/we-make-patterns-we-share-moments/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [Are you afraid, Tessa?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/are-you-afraid-tessa/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“Hey, listen,' I say. " Fascinating as this is, we've got to go now. I have to collect the invites for my funeral." That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/hey-listen-i-say-fascinating-as-this-is-we-ve-got-to-go-now-i-have-to/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“Zatvaram oči i zamišljam da sam drvo okupano sunčevim svjetlom, da ne želim ništa osim kiše.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/zatvaram-o-i-i-zami-ljam-da-sam-drvo-okupano-sun-evim-svjetlom-da-ne/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [It hurts and hurts to have him this close. I feel sick with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/it-hurts-and-hurts-to-have-him-this-close-i-feel-sick-with-it/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [Every breath, every heartbeat, was one less until maybe things stopped hurting this much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/every-breath-every-heartbeat-was-one-less-until-maybe-things-stopped/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [Keep breathing. Just keep doing it. It's easy. In and out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/keep-breathing-just-keep-doing-it-it-s-easy-in-and-out/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) [Explore all 133 Jenny Downham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) ## More Before i die quotes > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I had to choose a song to listen to before I died, it would be Simone singing Começar de novo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-bittencourt-de-oliveira/if-i-had-to-choose-a-song-to-listen-to-before-i-died-it-would-be/) Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira > [“I sit up in bed and watch her fiddle about in the back of my wardrobe. I think she's got a plan. That's what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/i-sit-up-in-bed-and-watch-her-fiddle-about-in-the-back-of-my-wardrobe/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [Long ago, when I was a very young girl, I said that I wanted to go everywhere, see everything, taste everything. hear everything, touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/long-ago-when-i-was-a-very-young-girl-i-said-that-i-wanted-to-go/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [ \[...\] "I recall what you said to me once," Will went on. "That words have the power to change us. Your words have changed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-recall-what-you-said-to-me-once-will-went-on-that-words-have-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I would still like to go to the moon before I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-grant/i-would-still-like-to-go-to-the-moon-before-i-die/) [Richard E. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-grant/) > [I must, before I die, find some way to say the essential thing that is in me, that I have never said yet --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-must-before-i-die-find-some-way-to-say-the-essential-thing-that-is/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/they-may-take-our-lives-but-they-ll-never-take-our-freedom/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [If you shoot, I will kill her before I die." Yes," Kitai said in a patient tone. "Which is why I have not shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/if-you-shoot-i-will-kill-her-before-i-die-yes-kitai-said-in-a-patient/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [If I had only one more sermon to preach before I died, it would be about my Lord Jesus Christ. And I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-i-had-only-one-more-sermon-to-preach-before-i-died-it-would-be/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I smoke pot because I want to go to heaven before I die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-smoke-pot-because-i-want-to-go-to-heaven-before-i-die/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Most of us are tiptoeing through life so we can reach death safely. We should be praying, "If I should wake before I die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/most-of-us-are-tiptoeing-through-life-so-we-can-reach-death-safely-we/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [And though the years before I die Stretch out interminably, I Shall only count my life in truth As that brief hour of happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/and-though-the-years-before-i-die-stretch-out-interminably-i-shall/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [Before I die, I want to fight for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/before-i-die-i-want-to-fight-for-life/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I would like, before I die, to see the changes I've always fought for being made. If not, my life will have been worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-would-like-before-i-die-to-see-the-changes-i-ve-always-fought-for/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) [Browse all 68 Before i die quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before-i-die/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He falls asleep quickly. I lie awake and listen to lights being switched off all over the town. Whispered goodnights. The drowsy creak of bedsprings. I find Adam’s hand and hold it tight. I’m glad that night porters and nurses and long-distance lorry drivers exist. It comforts me to know that in other countries with different time zones, women are washing clothes in rivers and children are filing to school. Somewhere in the world right now, a boy is listening to the merry chink of a goat’s bell as he walks up a mountain. 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