Close your eyes Quote by Neil Gaiman
““How can you be happy in this world? You have a hole in your heart. You have a gateway inside you to lands beyond the world you know. They will call you, as you grow. There can never be a time when you forget them, when you are not, in your heart, questing after something you cannot have, something you cannot even properly imagine, the lack of which will spoil your sleep and your day and your life, until you close your eyes for the final time...””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman, 2013
The quote describes an inner yearning, a void that drives us toward unseen possibilities, shaping our emotions and sleep until we find resolution or die.
In simple terms: A heart hole makes us quest for something beyond reach, affecting life and sleep.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge the longing, seek meaning, and heal the void.
Themes
longing
search
existential
sleep
healing
Mood
melancholic
hopeful
reflective
Type
philosophical
poetic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- nighttime anxiety
- life purpose
Key Concepts
psychology
spirituality
desire
unconscious
mortality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “hole” represent in your life?
- How can you transform yearning into purposeful action?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may romanticize suffering, ignoring practical steps to address mental health.
![“[T]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19e/neil-gaiman-29_quote_t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every_4551.jpg)
