Awake Quote by Nicole Krauss
“You’re lost in your own world, in the things that happen there, and you’ve locked all the doors. Sometimes I look at you sleeping. I wake up and look at you and I feel closer to you when you’re like that, unguarded, than when you’re awake. When you’re awake you’re like someone with her eyes closed, watching a movie on the inside of your eyelids. I can’t reach you anymore. Once upon a time I could, but not now, and not for a long time.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, 2005
The speaker feels a deep emotional distance from a loved one who is emotionally closed off, longing for the vulnerable moments when they seem more accessible.
In simple terms: Feeling distant from someone who hides their feelings.
Key Takeaway
Cherish moments of openness.
Themes
loneliness
intimacy
communication
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- relationship struggles
- mental health
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
emotional distance
vulnerability
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you bridge emotional gaps without forcing openness?
- What does “unguarded” truly mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Even when someone seems unguarded, true connection may still be elusive.
