Dreams Quote by Peter Carey
““7. Some Theories that Arose at the Time 1. The world is merely a dream dreamt by god who is waking after a long sleep. When he is properly awake the world will disappear completely. When the world disappears we will disappear with it and be happy. 2. The world has become sensitive to light. In the same way that prolonged use of, say, penicillin can suddenly result in a dangerous allergy, prolonged exposure of the world to the sun has made it sensitive to light. The advocates of this theory could be seen bustling through the city crowds in their long, hooded black robes. 3. The fact that the world is disappearing has been caused by the sloppy work of the Cartographers and the census takers. Those who filled out their census forms incorrectly would lose those items they had neglected to describe. People overlooked in the census by impatient officials would also disappear. A strong pressure group demanded that a new census be taken quickly before matters got worse. - From the story "Do You Love Me?””
About This Quote
Source Story: Do You Love Me?, published 2021
The passage presents three fantastical theories about the world’s nature and its potential disappearance, blending metaphysical speculation with social commentary.
In simple terms: It imagines the world as a dream that may end, becoming light‑sensitive, and being erased by bureaucratic errors.
Key Takeaway
Consider how belief, environment, and bureaucracy shape reality.
Themes
philosophy
fantasy
societal critique
existentialism
humor
Mood
thoughtful
ironic
speculative
Type
literary
philosophical
humorous
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- philosophical debate
- social satire
Key Concepts
metaphysics
bureaucracy
light sensitivity
dream theory
census errors
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “dream” metaphor suggest about reality?
- How might bureaucratic mistakes affect our perception of existence?
A Different Perspective
These ideas are fictional and not scientifically grounded.
