--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It should be so simple. You do what you…" description: "\"“It should be so simple. You do what you can while he is awake, and then once he is asleep, you do what you can only when he is asleep, beginning with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lydia-davis-3244_awake_it-should-be-so-simple-you-do-what-you-c_2028837.png" --- # It should be so simple. You do what you can while he is… ![“It should be so simple. You do what you can while he is awake, and then once he is asleep, you do what you can only when he is asleep, beginning with the most important thing. But it is not so simple.” quote by Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lydia-davis-3244_awake_it-should-be-so-simple-you-do-what-you-c_2028837.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lydia-davis-3244_awake_it-should-be-so-simple-you-do-what-you-c_2028837.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lydia-davis-3244_awake_it-should-be-so-simple-you-do-what-you-c_2028837.png) > ““It should be so simple. You do what you can while he is awake, and then once he is asleep, you do what you can only when he is asleep, beginning with the most important thing. But it is not so simple.”” [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing tasks while someone is awake versus asleep is complex; simple plans often fail. **In simple terms:** Managing responsibilities requires nuanced timing. Key Takeaway Plan with flexibility and prioritize. Themes time management complexity planning responsibility Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - parenting - caregiving - project management Key Concepts task prioritization sleep cycles Questions to Reflect On - How do you adjust plans when conditions change? - What tasks truly need immediate attention? A Different Perspective Rigid schedules ignore real‑world constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asleep Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asleep-beginning-3714873/) [Awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake/) [Awake Asleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake-asleep-2654367/) [Beginning Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-important-296561/) [Simple Awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-awake-3714872/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) ## Related quotes > [“YOU MUST BE AWAKE WHEN OTHERS ARE ASLEEP, IF YOU ARE TO GET TO THE TOP”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-be-awake-when-others-are-asleep-if-you-are-to-get-to-the-top/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Twin terrors: to be awake; to be asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretel-erlich/twin-terrors-to-be-awake-to-be-asleep/) [Gretel Erlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretel-erlich/) > [The beginning is the most important part of the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-beginning-is-the-most-important-part-of-the-work/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The beginning is the most important part of any work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-beginning-is-the-most-important-part-of-any-work/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The beginning is the most important part, especially when dealing with anything young and tender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-beginning-is-the-most-important-part-especially-when-dealing-with/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The beginning is the most important part...for that is the time character is being formed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-beginning-is-the-most-important-part-for-that-is-the-time/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-beginning-is-the-most-important-part-of-any-work-especially-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-know-that-the-beginning-is-the-most-important-part-of-any-work/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Because whether I’m awake or asleep, you’re my favorite dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-snyder/because-whether-i-m-awake-or-asleep-you-re-my-favorite-dream/) [T.H. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-snyder/) > [“Do you want silence? Be awake when everyone else is asleep, and sleep when everyone else is awake!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-you-want-silence-be-awake-when-everyone-else-is-asleep-and-sleep/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owl-city/it-s-hard-to-say-that-i-d-rather-stay-awake-when-i-m-asleep/) [Owl City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owl-city/) > [“I know the difference between being awake and being asleep when im awake..when im asleep not so much”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-smythe/i-know-the-difference-between-being-awake-and-being-asleep-when-im/) [A. Smythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-smythe/) > [“I didn't think, then, that we could ever be closer. I'm not sure anyone can. I'm not sure there is a place closer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-callanan/i-didn-t-think-then-that-we-could-ever-be-closer-i-m-not-sure-anyone/) [Liam Callanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-callanan/) > [You have to be awake at 6 a.m., when everyone else is asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-ashford/you-have-to-be-awake-at-6-a-m-when-everyone-else-is-asleep/) [Matthew Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-ashford/) > [Awake asleep ought to be with us - So he may see dreams in wakefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/awake-asleep-ought-to-be-with-us-so-he-may-see-dreams-in-wakefulness/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More by Lydia Davis > [Heart weeps. Head tries to help heart. Head tells heart how it is, again: You will lose the ones you love. They will all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/heart-weeps-head-tries-to-help-heart-head-tells-heart-how-it-is-again/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“But on that particular day I did not even begin to feel interested in this chore, and was suddenly more deeply bored than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/but-on-that-particular-day-i-did-not-even-begin-to-feel-interested-in/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [If a translation doesn't have obvious writing problems, it may seem quite all right at first glance. We readers, after all, quickly adapt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/if-a-translation-doesn-t-have-obvious-writing-problems-it-may-seem/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [I always interrupt work with other work, either in a small way or big way, so that's normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-always-interrupt-work-with-other-work-either-in-a-small-way-or-big/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [ I worked more intensively hour after hour when I was starting out \[writing\]. More laboriously. I'd say quantity is important as well as quality,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-worked-more-intensively-hour-after-hour-when-i-was-starting-out/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [I don't feel I have to struggle against allegory. I let the readers do the interpreting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-struggle-against-allegory-i-let-the-readers-do/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“because she couldn’t write the name of what she was: a wa wam owm owamn womn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/because-she-couldn-t-write-the-name-of-what-she-was-a-wa-wam-owm/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“Everything was sharper, clearer, and closer, as though, before, I had been seeing only little bits at a time, not all of it, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/everything-was-sharper-clearer-and-closer-as-though-before-i-had-been/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“He did not know exactly when to thank his hostess after attending a dinner or a weekend party. In his uncertainty, he would thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/he-did-not-know-exactly-when-to-thank-his-hostess-after-attending-a/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“There was no confusion of our bodies. I knew which arm was his and which mine, and which leg, and which shoulder. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/there-was-no-confusion-of-our-bodies-i-knew-which-arm-was-his-and/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“So it’s not really $100 a shot because it goes on all day, from the start when you wake up and feel her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/so-it-s-not-really-100-a-shot-because-it-goes-on-all-day-from-the/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“The people of the town, though, remained strangers: I could not realize that I must be seeing some of them over and over again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/the-people-of-the-town-though-remained-strangers-i-could-not-realize/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“He does not trust her: she will claim to be in a bad mood when she is not, and then require him to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/he-does-not-trust-her-she-will-claim-to-be-in-a-bad-mood-when-she-is/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [I would recommend, definitely, developing a 'day job' that you like - don't expect to make money writing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-would-recommend-definitely-developing-a-day-job-that-you-like-don-t/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [the translator, a lonely sort of acrobat, becomes confused in a labyrinth of paradox, or climbs a pyramid of dependent clauses and has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/the-translator-a-lonely-sort-of-acrobat-becomes-confused-in-a/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) [Explore all 135 Lydia Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) ## More Awake quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/) [Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/) > [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“I had a chat with May and I had a sweet talk with April but the lovely conversation that left me to ponder was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/i-had-a-chat-with-may-and-i-had-a-sweet-talk-with-april-but-the/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [Hopes are dreams of those who are awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hopes-are-dreams-of-those-who-are-awake/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Wherever I went I felt like the last person awake in a room full of sleepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/wherever-i-went-i-felt-like-the-last-person-awake-in-a-room-full-of/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“Think of it this way, Mara. We don’t have the power to make the sun rise, but we can choose to be awake when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-garlough-brown/think-of-it-this-way-mara-we-don-t-have-the-power-to-make-the-sun/) [Sharon Garlough Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-garlough-brown/) > [“The owl,” he was saying, “is one of the most curious creatures. 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Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/shall-we-keep-men-in-a-fool-s-paradise-shall-we-lull-them-into-soft/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 1,663 Awake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It should be so simple. You do what you can while he is awake, and then once he is asleep, you do what you can only when he is asleep, beginning with the most important thing. 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