---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is something sad about people going…"
description: "\"“There is something sad about people going to bed. You can see they don’t give a damn whether they’re getting what they want out of life or not, you ca..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_despair_there-is-something-sad-about-people-goin_3023700.jpg"
---

#  There is something sad about people going to bed. You can…

![“There is something sad about people going to bed. You can see they don’t give a damn whether they’re getting what they want out of life or not, you can see they don’t ever try to understand what we’re here for. They just don’t care. Americans or not, they sleep no matter what, they’re bloated…” quote by Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_despair_there-is-something-sad-about-people-goin_3023700.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_despair_there-is-something-sad-about-people-goin_3023700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_despair_there-is-something-sad-about-people-goin_3023700.jpg)

> ““There is something sad about people going to bed. You can see they don’t give a damn whether they’re getting what they want out of life or not, you can see they don’t ever try to understand what we’re here for. They just don’t care. Americans or not, they sleep no matter what, they’re bloated mollusks, no sensibility, no trouble with their conscience. I’d seen too many troubling things to be easy in my mind. I knew too much and not enough. I’d better go out, I said to myself, I’d better go out again. Maybe I’ll meet Robinson. Naturally that was an idiotic idea, but I dreamed it up as an excuse for going out again, because no matter how I tossed and turned on my narrow bed, I couldn’t snatch the tiniest scrap of sleep. Even masturbation, at times like that, provides neither comfort nor entertainment. Then you're really in despair.””

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Despair arises from existential emptiness and insomnia, leading to reckless escapism.

**In simple terms:** Despair fuels reckless escape.

Key Takeaway

Seek meaning beyond escapist fantasies.

Themes

despair existentialism insomnia

Mood

despondent introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- nighttime anxiety
- creative blocks
- addiction
- search for purpose

Key Concepts

psychology existential crisis

Questions to Reflect On

- What gives your life meaning?
- How do you confront sleeplessness constructively?

A Different Perspective

Escapism can worsen depression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Americans Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-sleep-4138957/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Dreamed Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamed-excuse-4906867/) [Going Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-bed/) [Ralph-mannheim-translation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ralph-mannheim-translation/) [Sad People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-people/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Try to understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-to-understand/)

## Related quotes

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[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“But when you are week the best way to fortify yourself is to strip the people you fear of the last bit of prestige…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/but-when-you-are-week-the-best-way-to-fortify-yourself-is-to-strip/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“The religion of the flag promptly replaced the cult of heaven, an old cloud which had already been deflated by the Reformation and reduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-religion-of-the-flag-promptly-replaced-the-cult-of-heaven-an-old/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“When you stop to examine the way in which our words are formed and uttered, our sentences are hard-put to it to survive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/when-you-stop-to-examine-the-way-in-which-our-words-are-formed-and-2/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“The Place Faidherbe had the characteristic atmosphere, the overdone décor, the floral and verbal excess, of a subprefecture in southern France gone mad. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-place-faidherbe-had-the-characteristic-atmosphere-the-overdone-d/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“How imperious the homicidal madness must have become if they’re willing to pardon—no, forget!—the theft of a can of meat! True, we have got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/how-imperious-the-homicidal-madness-must-have-become-if-they-re/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“The nights in Billancourt were soft and sweet, enlivened now and again by those childish airplane or zeppelin alarms which provided the civilian population…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-nights-in-billancourt-were-soft-and-sweet-enlivened-now-and-again/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“The coldest most rational scientific madness is also the most intolerable. But when a man has acquired a certain ability to subsist, even rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-coldest-most-rational-scientific-madness-is-also-the-most/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“Pleased at having proclaimed these useful truths, we sat looking at the ladies in the café.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/pleased-at-having-proclaimed-these-useful-truths-we-sat-looking-at/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“While he was cautiously preambling, I tried to form a picture of all he did each day to earn his calories, all his grimaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/while-he-was-cautiously-preambling-i-tried-to-form-a-picture-of-all/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“I feel sad for people and the queer part we play in our own disasters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-feel-sad-for-people-and-the-queer-part-we-play-in-our-own-disasters/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [It's sad how some people are so jealous and intimidated by you that they only have negative things to say when they know absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-sad-how-some-people-are-so-jealous-and-intimidated-by-you-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People would wonder what I had to be sad about, and I get why people feel that way. God, I feel it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-bridge/people-would-wonder-what-i-had-to-be-sad-about-and-i-get-why-people/)

[Frankie Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-bridge/)

> [It's really sad how many people believe in curses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/it-s-really-sad-how-many-people-believe-in-curses/)

[Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/)

## More by Louis-Ferdinand Céline

> [The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“All our misery comes from wanting at all costs to go on being Tom, Dick, or Harry, year in, year out. This body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/all-our-misery-comes-from-wanting-at-all-costs-to-go-on-being-tom/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“Now I know... we have at least two friends!... Cillie von Leiden and the hunchback... not bad in our situation... or, come right down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/now-i-know-we-have-at-least-two-friends-cillie-von-leiden-and-the/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [I hadn't found out yet that mankind consists of two very different races, the rich and the poor. It took me ... and plenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/i-hadn-t-found-out-yet-that-mankind-consists-of-two-very-different/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“Lie, copulate, and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/lie-copulate-and-die/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [Since life consists of madness spiked with lies, the farther you are from each other the more lies you can put into it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/since-life-consists-of-madness-spiked-with-lies-the-farther-you-are/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [In my room I'd barely closed my eyes when the blonde from the movie house came along and sang her whole song of sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/in-my-room-i-d-barely-closed-my-eyes-when-the-blonde-from-the-movie/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [There's a point of poverty at which the spirit isn't with the body all the time. It finds the body really too unbearable. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/there-s-a-point-of-poverty-at-which-the-spirit-isn-t-with-the-body/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“You can be a virgin in horror the same as in sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/you-can-be-a-virgin-in-horror-the-same-as-in-sex/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [You can lose your way groping among the shadows of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/you-can-lose-your-way-groping-among-the-shadows-of-the-past/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“People cling to their rotten memories, to all their misfortunes, and you can't pry them loose. These things keep them busy. They avenge themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/people-cling-to-their-rotten-memories-to-all-their-misfortunes-and/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“He couldn't have explained this misery of his, it exceeded his education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/he-couldn-t-have-explained-this-misery-of-his-it-exceeded-his/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“Hurry hurry, cram yourself full of dreams to carry you through the life that's waiting for you outside, when you leave here, to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/hurry-hurry-cram-yourself-full-of-dreams-to-carry-you-through-the/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [The poetry of heroism appeals irresistibly to those who don't go to a war, and even more to those whom the war is making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-poetry-of-heroism-appeals-irresistibly-to-those-who-don-t-go-to-a/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [“While he was cautiously preambling, I tried to form a picture of all he did each day to earn his calories, all his grimaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/while-he-was-cautiously-preambling-i-tried-to-form-a-picture-of-all/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

[Explore all 212 Louis-Ferdinand Céline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

## More Despair quotes

> [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/)

[Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/)

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/)

[Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/)

> [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/)

[Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/)

> [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [Enough for this bow &amp; arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/)

[Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/)

> [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/)

[John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/)

> [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/)

[Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/)

> [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

> [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/)

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