--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shaking himself free of pity, he set out…" description: "\"“Shaking himself free of pity, he set out to become her waking nightmare, knowing his cruelty may be the only thing capable of saving her from the unim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/m-s-willis-21851_nightmare_shaking-himself-free-of-pity-he-set-out_298430.jpg" --- # Shaking himself free of pity, he set out to become her… ![“Shaking himself free of pity, he set out to become her waking nightmare, knowing his cruelty may be the only thing capable of saving her from the unimaginable horror her rebellion could bring about.” quote by M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/m-s-willis-21851_nightmare_shaking-himself-free-of-pity-he-set-out_298430.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/m-s-willis-21851_nightmare_shaking-himself-free-of-pity-he-set-out_298430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/m-s-willis-21851_nightmare_shaking-himself-free-of-pity-he-set-out_298430.jpg) > ““Shaking himself free of pity, he set out to become her waking nightmare, knowing his cruelty may be the only thing capable of saving her from the unimaginable horror her rebellion could bring about.”” [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character embraces cruelty as a necessary means to protect someone from a greater, unknown terror. **In simple terms:** Cruelty used as a protective tool against worse outcomes. Key Takeaway Consider the moral cost of harsh actions. Themes morality protection sacrifice power dynamics Mood dark thought‑provoking Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - wartime decisions - family protection - authoritarian regimes - personal relationships Key Concepts ethical dilemmas psychological conflict heroism Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to use harsh means? - What alternatives exist to protect others? A Different Perspective Cruelty may cause lasting harm and erode trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) ## Related quotes > [Harder than waking from a nightmare was trying to wake herself into one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/harder-than-waking-from-a-nightmare-was-trying-to-wake-herself-into/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [“There was no waking from this nightmare, no comforting whisper in the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/there-was-no-waking-from-this-nightmare-no-comforting-whisper-in-the/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I have a sort of waking nightmare: to get this thing just about completed, and the last day to discover one little part that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-reid/i-have-a-sort-of-waking-nightmare-to-get-this-thing-just-about/) [Bill Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-reid/) > [“The dream was over and there was work to be done in the waking nightmare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-b-ezzell/the-dream-was-over-and-there-was-work-to-be-done-in-the-waking/) [K.B. Ezzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-b-ezzell/) > [“To go to sleep one night with your child nestled inside you and wake up the next with no evidence your child ever existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassia-leo/to-go-to-sleep-one-night-with-your-child-nestled-inside-you-and-wake/) [Cassia Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassia-leo/) > [I'm not afraid of having bad dreams. It's waking up that's the nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-afraid-of-having-bad-dreams-it-s-waking-up-that-s-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“On the other hand, the last week had pretty much been one waking nightmare after another; if this kept up, her dreams wouldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sagara-west/on-the-other-hand-the-last-week-had-pretty-much-been-one-waking/) [Michelle Sagara West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sagara-west/) > [I heard how people sounded when their dreams were shattered, when their lives were turned into a waking nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-scott/i-heard-how-people-sounded-when-their-dreams-were-shattered-when/) [Elizabeth Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-scott/) > [“Nothing like being in a dream, then waking up to a nightmare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/nothing-like-being-in-a-dream-then-waking-up-to-a-nightmare/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“When dreaming is better than reality we're living What's the sense of waking up in a nightmare?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-natad/when-dreaming-is-better-than-reality-we-re-living-what-s-the-sense-of/) Joshua Natad > [“The worst nightmare is to have no dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-amo/the-worst-nightmare-is-to-have-no-dreams/) [Thomas Amo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-amo/) > [I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [My nightmare scenario is that the government saves Citibank once again, as well as the other banks, and business resumes as usual. Then, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/my-nightmare-scenario-is-that-the-government-saves-citibank-once/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-yet-i-do-believe-there-is-ultimately-meaning-in-the-chaos-and/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) ## More by M.S. Willis > [“There was light in him, one so bright it could illuminate the entire night sky if only it wasn't covered over by the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/there-was-light-in-him-one-so-bright-it-could-illuminate-the-entire/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“He looked into her eyes, stared in awe at the woman who'd been so shy but somehow had become braver than him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/he-looked-into-her-eyes-stared-in-awe-at-the-woman-who-d-been-so-shy/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“Aaron smiled, amazed yet again at a woman who possessed such a beautiful soul, she could cry for murderers and thieves, but one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/aaron-smiled-amazed-yet-again-at-a-woman-who-possessed-such-a/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“You've taken me to the place where I most want to be; you've taken me into your arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/you-ve-taken-me-to-the-place-where-i-most-want-to-be-you-ve-taken-me/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“Don't mistake your Masters kindness for a weak spirit. He has killed more men than you've probably ever known in your young life. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/don-t-mistake-your-masters-kindness-for-a-weak-spirit-he-has-killed/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“You are not weak for having been hurt; rather, you are strong for having survived. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/you-are-not-weak-for-having-been-hurt-rather-you-are-strong-for/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“If i have to make her hate me in order to save her, I Will , Even if it destroys me in the process”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/if-i-have-to-make-her-hate-me-in-order-to-save-her-i-will-even-if-it/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“She was a slave to his lust, while he was a slave to her pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/she-was-a-slave-to-his-lust-while-he-was-a-slave-to-her-pain/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“You are not allowed thought anymore, your choices are mine, your actions are mine, everything you think or do will only be because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/you-are-not-allowed-thought-anymore-your-choices-are-mine-your/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“A weak woman at one times, she fell victim to evil, disappeared on a fated night never to return to the world again… but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/a-weak-woman-at-one-times-she-fell-victim-to-evil-disappeared-on-a/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“Eyes the color of forbidden forests gazed down upon her,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/eyes-the-color-of-forbidden-forests-gazed-down-upon-her/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“She was meant to be his destruction…A pawn played in a perilous game between father and son…Yet, her strength was more than either man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/she-was-meant-to-be-his-destruction-a-pawn-played-in-a-perilous-game/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“It amazed him to see that her heart had changed from that of a mouse into that of a lion in the matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/it-amazed-him-to-see-that-her-heart-had-changed-from-that-of-a-mouse/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“Madeleine saved herself when she was abducted. Taken while she was a scared woman, one who'd once been veiwed as nothing more than weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/madeleine-saved-herself-when-she-was-abducted-taken-while-she-was-a/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) > [“I want to give myself to you, Master; I have given myself to you." Peaking through her lashes, she found his eyes, saw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-willis/i-want-to-give-myself-to-you-master-i-have-given-myself-to-you/) [M.S. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) [Explore all 28 M.S. Willis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-willis/) ## More Nightmare quotes > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-yet-i-do-believe-there-is-ultimately-meaning-in-the-chaos-and/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [My nightmare scenario is that the government saves Citibank once again, as well as the other banks, and business resumes as usual. Then, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/my-nightmare-scenario-is-that-the-government-saves-citibank-once/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [“The worst nightmare is to have no dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-amo/the-worst-nightmare-is-to-have-no-dreams/) [Thomas Amo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-amo/) > [So actually I'll be living out my nightmare. Trapped in the city with only Blair Waldorf to talk to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-humphrey/so-actually-i-ll-be-living-out-my-nightmare-trapped-in-the-city-with/) Dan Humphrey > [“There was no waking from this nightmare, no comforting whisper in the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/there-was-no-waking-from-this-nightmare-no-comforting-whisper-in-the/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [In storytelling you kind of put your nightmares up there, you put your dreams up there and people can see them better because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/in-storytelling-you-kind-of-put-your-nightmares-up-there-you-put-your/) [Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/) > [I'm not a fan of musicals at all, but I do think 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is a very good. I always thought 'Walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-m-not-a-fan-of-musicals-at-all-but-i-do-think-the-nightmare-before/) [Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/) > [he was the monster that stalked nightmare and they both knew it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/he-was-the-monster-that-stalked-nightmare-and-they-both-knew-it/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [Whenever I go back to London, I have this horrible feeling that something bad will happen, and I won't be able to get back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-andrews/whenever-i-go-back-to-london-i-have-this-horrible-feeling-that/) [Naveen Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-andrews/) > [If you lost the love of your life, that's a nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-dupieux/if-you-lost-the-love-of-your-life-that-s-a-nightmare/) [Quentin Dupieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-dupieux/) > [Waking up and hoping that the dream you had was real and the nightmare you ad never happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace/waking-up-and-hoping-that-the-dream-you-had-was-real-and-the/) [Ace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace/) > [Coal is My Worst Nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-chu/coal-is-my-worst-nightmare/) [Steven Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-chu/) > [The world's not a very comfortable place if you have a nightmare to face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/the-world-s-not-a-very-comfortable-place-if-you-have-a-nightmare-to/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) [Browse all 1,442 Nightmare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Shaking himself free of pity, he set out to become her waking nightmare, knowing his cruelty may be the only thing capable of saving her from the unimaginable horror her rebellion could bring about.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.S. 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