Almost dying Quote by Stephen King
““it occurred to him that kids were better at almost dying, and they were also better at incorporating the inexplicable into their lives. They believed implicitly in the invisible world. Miracles both bright and dark were to be taken into consideration, oh yes, most certainly, but they by no means stopped the world. A sudden upheaval of beauty or terror at ten did not preclude an extra cheesedog or two for lunch at noon. “But when you grew up, all that changed. You no longer lay awake in your bed, sure something was crouching in the closet or scratching at the window ... but when something did happen, something beyond rational explanation, the circuits overloaded. The axons and dendrites got hot. You started to jitter and jive, you started to shake rattle and roll, your imagination started to hop and bop and do the funky chicken all over your nerves. You couldn’t just incorporate what had happened into your life experience. It didn’t digest. Your mind kept coming back to it, pawing it lightly like a kitten with a ball of string ... until eventually, of course, you either went crazy or got to a place where it was impossible for you to function.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Dark Tower series, 2003–2004
Children accept the supernatural easily, but adults struggle to integrate inexplicable events, leading to mental overload.
In simple terms: Kids accept miracles; adults resist them.
Recognize and process strange experiences rather than suppressing them.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- parenting
- therapy
- creative writing
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle events that defy logic?
- Can embracing mystery improve mental resilience?
Adults may rationalize away wonder, limiting emotional richness.