--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I sometimes get up at night when I can't…" description: "\"I sometimes get up at night when I can't sleep and walk down into my library and open one of my books and read a paragraph and say, 'My God, did I writ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/ray-bradbury-75_book_i-sometimes-get-up-at-night-when-i-can-t_2133682.jpg" --- # I sometimes get up at night when I can't sleep and walk… ![“I sometimes get up at night when I can't sleep and walk down into my library and open one of my books and read a paragraph and say, 'My God, did I write that?” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/ray-bradbury-75_book_i-sometimes-get-up-at-night-when-i-can-t_2133682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/ray-bradbury-75_book_i-sometimes-get-up-at-night-when-i-can-t_2133682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/ray-bradbury-75_book_i-sometimes-get-up-at-night-when-i-can-t_2133682.jpg) > “I sometimes get up at night when I can't sleep and walk down into my library and open one of my books and read a paragraph and say, 'My God, did I write that?” [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author questions his own work late at night, reflecting on unexpected ideas that feel alien. **In simple terms:** Even creators can be surprised by their own thoughts. Key Takeaway Embrace creative surprise. Themes creativity self‑reflection authorship Mood contemplative introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing sessions - late‑night brainstorming - artist retreats - personal journaling Key Concepts identity literary doubt creative process Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about artistic identity? - How do you trust your creative instincts? A Different Perspective Self‑doubt may hinder confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Can-t-sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-sleep/) [Did Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-write-382228/) [I can't sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can-t-sleep/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Library Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library-open-2245192/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Open Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-books-771340/) [Paragraph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paragraph/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sleep Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep-walk-357561/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't sleep. 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But generally, I'll say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/when-i-was-meeting-people-in-l-a-guys-always-thought-if-they-paid-for/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I'm so tired, but I can't sleep. Standing on the edge of something much too deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-m-so-tired-but-i-can-t-sleep-standing-on-the-edge-of-something-much/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [I get my most creative energy after a show, so I love to go back to the hotel and compose new material. I generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-get-my-most-creative-energy-after-a-show-so-i-love-to-go-back-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I can't sleep. There's always somebody not getting treatment. I can't stand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/i-can-t-sleep-there-s-always-somebody-not-getting-treatment-i-can-t/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/) ## More by Ray Bradbury > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. 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We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. 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