--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones…" description: "\"I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without them, I might have nothing all night long.\" — Joseph Heller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/joseph-heller-601_dream_i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-b_2402776.png" --- # I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without… ![“I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without them, I might have nothing all night long.” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/joseph-heller-601_dream_i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-b_2402776.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/joseph-heller-601_dream_i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-b_2402776.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/joseph-heller-601_dream_i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-b_2402776.png) > “I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without them, I might have nothing all night long.” [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values even bad dreams because they give meaning to otherwise empty nights. **In simple terms:** Bad dreams give purpose. Key Takeaway Embrace all thoughts, even unsettling ones. Themes dreams meaning existence Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - nighttime reflection - creative writing - mental health Key Concepts psychology nightmares purpose Questions to Reflect On - What do your bad dreams reveal? - Can you transform fear into insight? A Different Perspective Bad dreams can cause distress if dwelled on too long. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) ## Related quotes > [The newspaper stories were like dreams to us, bad dreams dreamt by others. How awful, we would say, and they were, but they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-newspaper-stories-were-like-dreams-to-us-bad-dreams-dreamt-by/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Old age is when you are not bothered with bad dreams, but with bad reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faina-ranevskaya/old-age-is-when-you-are-not-bothered-with-bad-dreams-but-with-bad/) [Faina Ranevskaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faina-ranevskaya/) > [“I only have two kinds of dreams: the bad and the terrible. Bad dreams I can cope with. 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God didn't write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/i-have-this-idea-stuck-in-my-head-that-you-have-to-be-born-beautiful/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) > [I never remember nice dreams; only the bad ones stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/i-never-remember-nice-dreams-only-the-bad-ones-stick/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [A girl dreams about a bad boy, who is gentle only for her. A boy wants a good girl, who is naughty only for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-girl-dreams-about-a-bad-boy-who-is-gentle-only-for-her-a-boy-wants/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Build your life on your dreams; because dreams never have bad endings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/build-your-life-on-your-dreams-because-dreams-never-have-bad-endings/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I have read a great deal about what animals dream, but none of it has ever really satisfied me. I believe they dream exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-amory/i-have-read-a-great-deal-about-what-animals-dream-but-none-of-it-has/) [Cleveland Amory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-amory/) > [“I only have two kinds of dreams: the bad and the terrible. Bad dreams I can cope with. They're just nightmares, and they end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-only-have-two-kinds-of-dreams-the-bad-and-the-terrible-bad-dreams-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“When I said I’ve always wanted you, I meant all of you: your body, your ideas, your memories, your whole heart. I want your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-dewall/when-i-said-i-ve-always-wanted-you-i-meant-all-of-you-your-body-your/) A.J. DeWall > [If you want your dreams to come true, don't sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/if-you-want-your-dreams-to-come-true-don-t-sleep/) Yiddish Proverb > [Everytime before I sleep,im thinking about you because I want to be with you in my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/everytime-before-i-sleep-im-thinking-about-you-because-i-want-to-be/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) > [Me being single doesn't mean that I don't need a partner, it's just the fact that I'm focused on myself and want all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surgeo-bell/me-being-single-doesn-t-mean-that-i-don-t-need-a-partner-it-s-just/) [Surgeo Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surgeo-bell/) > [“So don't judge me, unless you've fallen asleep on a couch with your ill child, thinking this night might be her last. Ask instead:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/so-don-t-judge-me-unless-you-ve-fallen-asleep-on-a-couch-with-your/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Joseph Heller > [“Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. "That's some catch, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-very-deeply-by-the-absolute-simplicity-of-this/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“They think that they’re smart and that the rest of us are dumb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/they-think-that-they-re-smart-and-that-the-rest-of-us-are-dumb/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-was-only-one-catch-and-that-was-catch-22-which-specified-that-a/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Captain Flume was obsessed with the idea that Chief White Halfoat would tiptoe up to his cot one night when he was sound asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/captain-flume-was-obsessed-with-the-idea-that-chief-white-halfoat/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Depreciating motels, junked automobiles, and quick-food joints grow like amber waves of grain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/depreciating-motels-junked-automobiles-and-quick-food-joints-grow/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“That was where he wanted to be if he had to be there at all, instead of hung out there in front like some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/that-was-where-he-wanted-to-be-if-he-had-to-be-there-at-all-instead/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I had examined myself pretty thoroughly and discovered that I was unfit for military service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-had-examined-myself-pretty-thoroughly-and-discovered-that-i-was/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Yossarian was moved by such intense pity for his poverty that he wanted to smash his pale. sad, sickly face with his fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-by-such-intense-pity-for-his-poverty-that-he/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate." "Consciously, sir, consciously,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/you-have-deep-seated-survival-anxieties-and-you-don-t-like-bigots/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/his-specialty-was-alfalfa-and-he-made-a-good-thing-out-of-not-growing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Every writer I know has trouble writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/every-writer-i-know-has-trouble-writing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“No such private nights of ecstasy or hushed-up drinking and sex orgies ever occurred. They might have occurred if either General Dreedle or General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/no-such-private-nights-of-ecstasy-or-hushed-up-drinking-and-sex/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) [Explore all 420 Joseph Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without them, I might have nothing all night long.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Heller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-because-without-them-i-might/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-because-without-them-i-might/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/joseph-heller-601_dream_i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-b_2402776.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/joseph-heller-601_dream_i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-b_2402776.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/joseph-heller-601_dream_i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-b_2402776.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without them, I might have nothing all night long.” — Joseph Heller", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joseph Heller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I want to keep my dreams,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-because-without-them-i-might/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-want-to-keep-my-dreams-even-bad-ones-because-without-them-i-might/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```