--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The neurotic lies awake at night…" description: "\"The neurotic lies awake at night, composing letters to those he hates. He seldom thinks of dropping a line to those he loves.\" — Mignon McLaughlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_awake_the-neurotic-lies-awake-at-night-composi_546129.png" --- # The neurotic lies awake at night, composing letters to… ![“The neurotic lies awake at night, composing letters to those he hates. He seldom thinks of dropping a line to those he loves.” quote by Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_awake_the-neurotic-lies-awake-at-night-composi_546129.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_awake_the-neurotic-lies-awake-at-night-composi_546129.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/mignon-mclaughlin-742_awake_the-neurotic-lies-awake-at-night-composi_546129.png) > “The neurotic lies awake at night, composing letters to those he hates. He seldom thinks of dropping a line to those he loves.” [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety fuels hostile thoughts, while love often goes unexpressed, highlighting emotional imbalance. **In simple terms:** Worry leads to hate, love is neglected. Key Takeaway Practice expressing affection daily. Themes anxiety communication emotions Mood reflective introspective Type advice psychological When to use this quote - relationship conflicts - nighttime rumination - letter writing - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychology interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What can you write to a loved one tonight? - How does anxiety shape your nightly thoughts? A Different Perspective Focusing on hate may amplify negativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Neurotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurotic/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [She waits and waits, she lies awake. To be swept off her feet, by the one that makes her heart skip a beat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emili-elmore/she-waits-and-waits-she-lies-awake-to-be-swept-off-her-feet-by-the/) Emili Elmore > [If I've learned anything in twenty-nine years, it's that every human being you see in the course of a day has a problem that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/if-i-ve-learned-anything-in-twenty-nine-years-it-s-that-every-human/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [We're a lukewarm people for all our feast days and hard work. Not much touches us, but we long to be touched. We lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/we-re-a-lukewarm-people-for-all-our-feast-days-and-hard-work-not-much/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [In reality, the main thing that keeps me awake at night is probably the destruction of the planet that's what gets me pretty upset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/in-reality-the-main-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-is-probably/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Thinking about the heartbreaking number of young children around the world who think they are unwanted and are uncared for can easily keep you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-march/thinking-about-the-heartbreaking-number-of-young-children-around-the/) [Stephanie March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-march/) > [“I believe that love is an overwhelming, all-consuming force, and when it’s genuine you can’t really ignore it. No matter how long it takes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-believe-that-love-is-an-overwhelming-all-consuming-force-and-when/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [Regret is what you should fear the most. If something is going to keep you awake at night, let it be the fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/regret-is-what-you-should-fear-the-most-if-something-is-going-to-keep/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [I sometimes lie awake at night and wonder why I am still so popular and, to be honest, I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/i-sometimes-lie-awake-at-night-and-wonder-why-i-am-still-so-popular/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [Sitting awake at night with nothing to distract you, wishing someone cared enough to realize you are not okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sitting-awake-at-night-with-nothing-to-distract-you-wishing-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I sometimes lie awake at night and try to imagine what would be the best period in history to spend one's seventy-odd years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/i-sometimes-lie-awake-at-night-and-try-to-imagine-what-would-be-the/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [“ Many of us are slaves to our minds. Our own mind is our worst enemy. We try to focus, and our mind wanders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham-rinpoche/many-of-us-are-slaves-to-our-minds-our-own-mind-is-our-worst-enemy-we/) Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche > [Sometimes I wonder why I love you. I'll sit there awake at night, just trying to find out what I see in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-wonder-why-i-love-you-i-ll-sit-there-awake-at-night-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She was tired of the flaming thoughts of discontent that kept her awake at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gaffney/she-was-tired-of-the-flaming-thoughts-of-discontent-that-kept-her/) [Virginia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gaffney/) > [“I sometimes lie awake at night wishing I had all the answers. But I guess only God has all of them, while I only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-sometimes-lie-awake-at-night-wishing-i-had-all-the-answers-but-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“When I was a child, I often used to lie awake at night, in fearful anticipation of some unpleasant event the following day, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/when-i-was-a-child-i-often-used-to-lie-awake-at-night-in-fearful/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) ## More by Mignon McLaughlin > [As we are human, we can't do what we can't do; as we're neurotic, we can't do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/as-we-are-human-we-can-t-do-what-we-can-t-do-as-we-re-neurotic-we-can/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Naturally, the neurotic wants you to love him twice as much, for he's going to cut it in half anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/naturally-the-neurotic-wants-you-to-love-him-twice-as-much-for-he-s/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-ourselves-lest-it-be-noticed/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The three horrors of modern life - talk without meaning, desire without love, work without satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-three-horrors-of-modern-life-talk-without-meaning-desire-without/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We are never more self-righteous than when giving up what we should have shunned all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-never-more-self-righteous-than-when-giving-up-what-we-should/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [One of life's few really reliable pleasures: to have a family you love, and to leave them for a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/one-of-life-s-few-really-reliable-pleasures-to-have-a-family-you-love/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [So long as God reveals Himself, or doesn't, He is behaving like God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/so-long-as-god-reveals-himself-or-doesn-t-he-is-behaving-like-god/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The total history of almost anyone would shock almost everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-total-history-of-almost-anyone-would-shock-almost-everyone/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [There are children born to be children, and others who must mark time till they can take their natural places as adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-children-born-to-be-children-and-others-who-must-mark-time/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [In life, as in restaurants, we swallow a lot of indigestible stuff just because it comes with the dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/in-life-as-in-restaurants-we-swallow-a-lot-of-indigestible-stuff-just/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Neurotics always feel as though they were going way up or way down, which is odd in people going sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/neurotics-always-feel-as-though-they-were-going-way-up-or-way-down/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Even in the same family, one child will always instinctively know when to ask for things, and another won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/even-in-the-same-family-one-child-will-always-instinctively-know-when/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [People find it hard to be both comic and serious, though life manages it easily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/people-find-it-hard-to-be-both-comic-and-serious-though-life-manages/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [No good neurotic finds it difficult to be both opinionated and indecisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/no-good-neurotic-finds-it-difficult-to-be-both-opinionated-and/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 383 Mignon McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## 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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