--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I seriously believed that my last hour…" description: "\"I seriously believed that my last hour was approaching, and yet, so strange is imagination, all I thought of was some childish hypothesis or other. In ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jules-verne-795_approaching_i-seriously-believed-that-my-last-hour-w_688563.jpg" --- # I seriously believed that my last hour was approaching… ![“I seriously believed that my last hour was approaching, and yet, so strange is imagination, all I thought of was some childish hypothesis or other. In such circumstances, you do not choose your own thoughts. They overcome you.” quote by Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jules-verne-795_approaching_i-seriously-believed-that-my-last-hour-w_688563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jules-verne-795_approaching_i-seriously-believed-that-my-last-hour-w_688563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jules-verne-795_approaching_i-seriously-believed-that-my-last-hour-w_688563.jpg) > “I seriously believed that my last hour was approaching, and yet, so strange is imagination, all I thought of was some childish hypothesis or other. In such circumstances, you do not choose your own thoughts. They overcome you.” [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When death feels imminent, imagination runs wild, producing childish, uncontrollable thoughts that dominate the mind. **In simple terms:** Imminent death triggers uncontrollable, childish thoughts. Key Takeaway Accept thoughts without judgment; breathe. Themes mortality imagination loss of control Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - Facing terminal illness - intense stress - creative brainstorming - meditation - therapy Key Concepts Existential dread psychology cognitive intrusion Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice thoughts taking over? - Can you separate feeling from imagination? A Different Perspective Thoughts may be overwhelming but can be observed without acting on them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approaching/) [Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed/) [Childish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childish/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Choose Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-thoughts-743426/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hour/) [Hypothesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagination Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-thought-2807313/) [Last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriously/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Strange Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange-imagination-5475389/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Childish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-childish-300141/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Thoughts Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-overcome-5475390/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [When I looked at Ioniq, I thought about something in a childish way: If a thunder hits the car, will it recharge?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jin/when-i-looked-at-ioniq-i-thought-about-something-in-a-childish-way-if/) [Jin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jin/) > [Music is about imagination. It's about thought. It's about creating something from nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/music-is-about-imagination-it-s-about-thought-it-s-about-creating/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [Nabokov, who I loved more than any other writer when I was young, had such contempt for dialogue. When I was younger, I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/nabokov-who-i-loved-more-than-any-other-writer-when-i-was-young-had/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [“The world of imagination is thought implicit, the world of thought, so called, is thought explicit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-g-collingwood/the-world-of-imagination-is-thought-implicit-the-world-of-thought-so/) [R. G. Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-g-collingwood/) > [“Normal people choose their thoughts like they choose what to watch on TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/normal-people-choose-their-thoughts-like-they-choose-what-to-watch-on/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [My understanding is that you get to choose which of your thoughts to go with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/my-understanding-is-that-you-get-to-choose-which-of-your-thoughts-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [We must break the mental patterns that no longer serve us, and we have the power to consciously choose thoughts that empower us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/we-must-break-the-mental-patterns-that-no-longer-serve-us-and-we-have/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [Choose your thoughts carefully. Keep what brings you peace, release what brings you suffering. And know that happiness is just a thought away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/choose-your-thoughts-carefully-keep-what-brings-you-peace-release/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you make your relationship with your Inner Being your top priority, and you deliberately choose thoughts that allow your alignment, you will consistently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/if-you-make-your-relationship-with-your-inner-being-your-top-priority/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Every thought we think is like a brush stroke on the canvas of our lives. Let’s choose our thoughts, then, as a great artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/every-thought-we-think-is-like-a-brush-stroke-on-the-canvas-of-our/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [You... and only you choose your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/you-and-only-you-choose-your-thoughts/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“You want to become aware of your thoughts and choose your thoughts carefully and you want to have fun with this, because you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-want-to-become-aware-of-your-thoughts-and-choose-your-thoughts/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“We choose our thoughts. We choose our perceptions. We choose our attitudes…And our lives become defined by our choices. - chief inspector Armand Gamache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-choose-our-thoughts-we-choose-our-perceptions-we-choose-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our greatest human freedom is that, despite whatever our physical situation is in life, WE ARE ALWAYS FREE TO CHOOSE OUR THOUGHTS!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-greatest-human-freedom-is-that-despite-whatever-our-physical/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/there-is-so-much-about-my-fate-that-i-cannot-control-but-other-things/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More by Jules Verne > [Look with all your eyes, look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/look-with-all-your-eyes-look/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“As I remarked before, the Asiatic elephant is smaller than the African, which is frequently twelve feet high, and its tusks are in proportion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/as-i-remarked-before-the-asiatic-elephant-is-smaller-than-the-african/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [As long as a man's heart beats, as long as a man's flesh quivers, I do not allow that a being gifted with thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/as-long-as-a-man-s-heart-beats-as-long-as-a-man-s-flesh-quivers-i-do/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Now, when an American has an idea, he directly seeks a second American to share it. If there be three, they elect a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/now-when-an-american-has-an-idea-he-directly-seeks-a-second-american/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Well, my friend, this earth will one day be that cold corpse; it will become uninhabitable and uninhabited like the moon, which has long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/well-my-friend-this-earth-will-one-day-be-that-cold-corpse-it-will/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot - travel all the same!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/ah-young-people-travel-if-you-can-and-if-you-cannot-travel-all-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [It is always a vulgar and often an unhealthy pastime, and it is a vice which does not go alone; the man who gambles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-is-always-a-vulgar-and-often-an-unhealthy-pastime-and-it-is-a-vice/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“My uncle” is the natives’ usual name for the tiger, they believing that the soul of each of their ancestors is lodged for eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/my-uncle-is-the-natives-usual-name-for-the-tiger-they-believing-that/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“Kâlagani evidently knew this thinly-peopled region perfectly, and guided us across it most admirably. On the 29th September our train began to ascend the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/k-lagani-evidently-knew-this-thinly-peopled-region-perfectly-and/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Well, I feel that we should always put a little art into what we do. It's better that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/well-i-feel-that-we-should-always-put-a-little-art-into-what-we-do-it/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“— Isola in vendita per contanti, più le spese, al miglior offerente! — andava ripetendo a perdifiato Dean Felporg, banditore dell'auction, in cui venivano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/isola-in-vendita-per-contanti-pi-le-spese-al-miglior-offerente-andava/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [It is certain," exclaimed my uncle in a tone of triumph. "But silence, do you hear me? silence upon the whole subject; and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-is-certain-exclaimed-my-uncle-in-a-tone-of-triumph-but-silence-do/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Man, a mere inhabitant of the earth, cannot overstep its boundaries! But though he is confined to its crust, he may penetrate into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/man-a-mere-inhabitant-of-the-earth-cannot-overstep-its-boundaries-but/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [On the surface of the ocean, men wage war and destroy each other; but down here, just a few feet beneath the surface, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/on-the-surface-of-the-ocean-men-wage-war-and-destroy-each-other-but/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [In presence of Nature's grand convulsions man is powerless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/in-presence-of-nature-s-grand-convulsions-man-is-powerless/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) [Explore all 331 Jules Verne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) ## More Approaching quotes > [What's the fun in approaching something closed-minded? I'm very specific; if dialogue is too on-the-nose, or there's a lot of telling and not showing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rothhaar/what-s-the-fun-in-approaching-something-closed-minded-i-m-very/) [Will Rothhaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rothhaar/) > [This is a time when the United States should be standing tall. There is no other leader in the world today. We shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/this-is-a-time-when-the-united-states-should-be-standing-tall-there/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [Seven years into writing a novel, I started to lose my mind. My thirty-seventh birthday had just come and gone, the end of 2008…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/seven-years-into-writing-a-novel-i-started-to-lose-my-mind-my-thirty/) [Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/) > [When I'm at my best, I'm trying to destabilize myself and figure out new ways of approaching art as a provocation. I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/when-i-m-at-my-best-i-m-trying-to-destabilize-myself-and-figure-out/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [“it’s really just taking action—whether that’s approaching someone you’re intimidated by or deciding to finally crack a book on a subject you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-really-just-taking-action-whether-that-s-approaching-someone-you/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Approaching a police car is a very dangerous activity to engage in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/approaching-a-police-car-is-a-very-dangerous-activity-to-engage-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I'm approaching 70. Unfortunately, from the wrong direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-m-approaching-70-unfortunately-from-the-wrong-direction/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [To me, unconventional thinking is approaching a problem and asking, 'Why not? Why can't something be done?' If someone can't give me a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/to-me-unconventional-thinking-is-approaching-a-problem-and-asking-why/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [It took me way beyond what I knew, into places of which I was totally scared, but as I became less frightened, I welcomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/it-took-me-way-beyond-what-i-knew-into-places-of-which-i-was-totally/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [We need to go to the niceties of approaching the U. N. and let them have a chance to take it over, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-odom/we-need-to-go-to-the-niceties-of-approaching-the-u-n-and-let-them/) [William Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-odom/) > [“You have to believe that people will be open to your advances. We psych ourselves out of approaching a potential BFF or emailing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bertsche/you-have-to-believe-that-people-will-be-open-to-your-advances-we/) [Rachel Bertsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bertsche/) > [Approaching people looking for something in return isn't a relationship, it's a transaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/approaching-people-looking-for-something-in-return-isn-t-a/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [You find yourself approaching middle age, playing another scuzzy rock club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/you-find-yourself-approaching-middle-age-playing-another-scuzzy-rock/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [In our ordinary experiences with other people, we know that approaching each other in a machinelike way gets us into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/in-our-ordinary-experiences-with-other-people-we-know-that/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [If people cannot get a hold of you, or have trouble approaching you, they will forget about you. Your general availability and accessibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-people-cannot-get-a-hold-of-you-or-have-trouble-approaching-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) [Browse all 100 Approaching quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approaching/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I seriously believed that my last hour was approaching, and yet, so strange is imagination, all I thought of was some childish hypothesis or other. In such circumstances, you do not choose your own thoughts. 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