---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: …I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor…"
description: "\"…I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor awake looking down a long corridor of gray half light where all stable things had become shadowy paradoxical a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/william-faulkner-306_antics_i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor_2796959.png"
---

#  …I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor awake looking…

![“…I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor awake looking down a long corridor of gray half light where all stable things had become shadowy paradoxical all I had done shadows all I had felt suffered taking visible form antic and perverse mocking without relevance inherent themselves with the denial…” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/william-faulkner-306_antics_i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor_2796959.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/william-faulkner-306_antics_i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor_2796959.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/william-faulkner-306_antics_i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor_2796959.png)

> “…I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor awake looking down a long corridor of gray half light where all stable things had become shadowy paradoxical all I had done shadows all I had felt suffered taking visible form antic and perverse mocking without relevance inherent themselves with the denial of the significance they should have affirmed thinking I was I was not who was not was not who.”

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A disorienting mental state blurs reality, turning experiences into confusing, paradoxical shadows that challenge identity.

**In simple terms:** Confusion blurs reality.

Key Takeaway

Seek clarity amid mental chaos.

Themes

identity perception confusion

Mood

introspective poetic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- therapy
- creative writing
- mindfulness practice

Key Concepts

existential doubt psychological fragmentation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you navigate moments of mental disorientation?
- What anchors can you use to maintain a sense of self?

A Different Perspective

The narrative may be overly opaque for some readers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Paradoxical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradoxical/) [Relevance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevance/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [“Sometimes I could put myself to sleep saying that over and over until after the honeysuckle got all mixed up in it the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/sometimes-i-could-put-myself-to-sleep-saying-that-over-and-over-until/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“Pain is pain, long or short; it’s still felt, still suffered,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-fletcher/pain-is-pain-long-or-short-it-s-still-felt-still-suffered/)

Donna Fletcher

> [I have written only what I have thought through, felt through and suffered through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/i-have-written-only-what-i-have-thought-through-felt-through-and/)

[Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/)

> [“Depending on the places we passed, the night around us shaded from ink black to red to purple to a washed-out yellow that hung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/depending-on-the-places-we-passed-the-night-around-us-shaded-from-ink/)

[Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/)

> [“He knelt among the shadows and felt his isolation bitterly. They were savages it was true; but they were human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/he-knelt-among-the-shadows-and-felt-his-isolation-bitterly-they-were/)

[William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/)

> [Don't stress over mean-girl antics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-bronfman/don-t-stress-over-mean-girl-antics/)

[Hannah Bronfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-bronfman/)

> [In a way, sometimes I was quite pleased when I got beat, 'cos then I could do my antics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/in-a-way-sometimes-i-was-quite-pleased-when-i-got-beat-cos-then-i/)

[Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/)

> [There's a way of doing comedy that feels true to the person doing it, that doesn't feel like clown-work or silly faces and antics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-daly/there-s-a-way-of-doing-comedy-that-feels-true-to-the-person-doing-it/)

[Andy Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-daly/)

> [For public opinion does not admit that lofty rapturous laughter is worthy to stand beside lofty lyrical emotion and that there isall the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/for-public-opinion-does-not-admit-that-lofty-rapturous-laughter-is/)

[Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/)

> [Gary Shteyngart has written a memoir for the ages. I spat laughter on the first page and closed the last with wet eyes. Un-put-down-able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/gary-shteyngart-has-written-a-memoir-for-the-ages-i-spat-laughter-on/)

[Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/)

> [As for the petty little world of journalism, the media demonstrates how it, more than anyone, is careful to traffic only in authorized ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-faurisson/as-for-the-petty-little-world-of-journalism-the-media-demonstrates/)

Robert Faurisson

> [GLHR... has used Greenpeace-style media antics to draw more public attention to the plight of sweatshop workers than the multimillion - dollar international trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/glhr-has-used-greenpeace-style-media-antics-to-draw-more-public/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [Each cast member brings their own vibe and antics to the set. You're constantly surrounded by fun loving people who can make you laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/each-cast-member-brings-their-own-vibe-and-antics-to-the-set-you-re/)

[John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/)

> [This is not about abortion or the antics. This is about pro choice versus anti-choice and government intervention in a woman's personal decisions about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/this-is-not-about-abortion-or-the-antics-this-is-about-pro-choice/)

[Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/)

> [Story is about pulling the reader in and a plot is a more externalized mechanism of revelation. A plot is more antic, more performative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/story-is-about-pulling-the-reader-in-and-a-plot-is-a-more/)

[Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/)

## More by William Faulkner

> [“The river itself is not a hundred yards across, and pa and Vernon and Vardaman and Dewey Dell are the only things in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-river-itself-is-not-a-hundred-yards-across-and-pa-and-vernon-and/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-quality-an-artist-must-have-is-objectivity-in-judging-his-work/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“Luster returned, wearing a stiff new straw hat with a colored band and carrying a cloth cap. The hat seemed to isolate Luster's skull,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/luster-returned-wearing-a-stiff-new-straw-hat-with-a-colored-band-and/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-man-is-immortal-simply-because-he-will/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“What matters is at the end of life, when you're about to pass into oblivion, that you've at least scratched 'Kilroy was here,' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/what-matters-is-at-the-end-of-life-when-you-re-about-to-pass-into/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [I've got to feel the pencil and see the words at the end of the pencil,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-ve-got-to-feel-the-pencil-and-see-the-words-at-the-end-of-the-pencil/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [And sure enough, even waiting will end...if you can just wait long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/and-sure-enough-even-waiting-will-end-if-you-can-just-wait-long-enough/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-believe-that-man-will-not-merely-endure-he-will-prevail-he-is/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/to-understand-the-world-you-must-first-understand-a-place-like/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“What modren ideas?” pap said. “I didn’t know there was but one idea about work—until it is done, it ain’t done, and when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/what-modren-ideas-pap-said-i-didn-t-know-there-was-but-one-idea-about/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“It was only as he put his hand on the door that he became aware of complete silence beyond it, a silence which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-was-only-as-he-put-his-hand-on-the-door-that-he-became-aware-of/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“She has no mother because fatherblood hates with love and pride, but motherblood with hate loves and cohabits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/she-has-no-mother-because-fatherblood-hates-with-love-and-pride-but/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“Byron listened quietly, thinking to himself how people everywhere are about the same, but that it did seem that in a small town, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/byron-listened-quietly-thinking-to-himself-how-people-everywhere-are/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [“It was too late. Maybe yesterday, while I was still a child, but not now. I knew too much, had seen too much, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-was-too-late-maybe-yesterday-while-i-was-still-a-child-but-not-now/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

[Explore all 673 William Faulkner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

## More Antics quotes

> [Story is about pulling the reader in and a plot is a more externalized mechanism of revelation. A plot is more antic, more performative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/story-is-about-pulling-the-reader-in-and-a-plot-is-a-more/)

[Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/)

> [This is not about abortion or the antics. This is about pro choice versus anti-choice and government intervention in a woman's personal decisions about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/this-is-not-about-abortion-or-the-antics-this-is-about-pro-choice/)

[Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/)

> [Each cast member brings their own vibe and antics to the set. You're constantly surrounded by fun loving people who can make you laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/each-cast-member-brings-their-own-vibe-and-antics-to-the-set-you-re/)

[John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/)

> [GLHR... has used Greenpeace-style media antics to draw more public attention to the plight of sweatshop workers than the multimillion - dollar international trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/glhr-has-used-greenpeace-style-media-antics-to-draw-more-public/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [As for the petty little world of journalism, the media demonstrates how it, more than anyone, is careful to traffic only in authorized ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-faurisson/as-for-the-petty-little-world-of-journalism-the-media-demonstrates/)

Robert Faurisson

> [Gary Shteyngart has written a memoir for the ages. I spat laughter on the first page and closed the last with wet eyes. Un-put-down-able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/gary-shteyngart-has-written-a-memoir-for-the-ages-i-spat-laughter-on/)

[Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/)

> [For public opinion does not admit that lofty rapturous laughter is worthy to stand beside lofty lyrical emotion and that there isall the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/for-public-opinion-does-not-admit-that-lofty-rapturous-laughter-is/)

[Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/)

> [There's a way of doing comedy that feels true to the person doing it, that doesn't feel like clown-work or silly faces and antics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-daly/there-s-a-way-of-doing-comedy-that-feels-true-to-the-person-doing-it/)

[Andy Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-daly/)

> [In a way, sometimes I was quite pleased when I got beat, 'cos then I could do my antics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/in-a-way-sometimes-i-was-quite-pleased-when-i-got-beat-cos-then-i/)

[Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/)

> [Don't stress over mean-girl antics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-bronfman/don-t-stress-over-mean-girl-antics/)

[Hannah Bronfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-bronfman/)

> [I'm more likely to strike up a conversation with a stranger than to try any antic or pickup lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-snyder/i-m-more-likely-to-strike-up-a-conversation-with-a-stranger-than-to/)

[Clayton Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-snyder/)

> [Such antics do not amount to a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/such-antics-do-not-amount-to-a-man/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [John Kerry wants to be the hero in his own drama. He likes King Arthur and the Round Table. He likes the young swashbuckling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/john-kerry-wants-to-be-the-hero-in-his-own-drama-he-likes-king-arthur/)

[Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/)

> [I recall an incident involving the late George Stigler at a conference in Spain in the 1980s. Hearing that I had written a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-van-dun/i-recall-an-incident-involving-the-late-george-stigler-at-a/)

[Frank Van Dun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-van-dun/)

> [Some of the fae have an odd idea of bride send-offs," he explained "including, according to Zee, kidnapping." "I forgot about that." And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/some-of-the-fae-have-an-odd-idea-of-bride-send-offs-he-explained/)

[Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/)

Browse all 55 Antics quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "…I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor awake looking down a long corridor of gray half light where all stable things had become shadowy paradoxical all I had done shadows all I had felt suffered taking visible form antic and perverse mocking without relevance inherent themselves with the denial of the significance they should have affirmed thinking I was I was not who was not was not who.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Faulkner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor-awake-looking-down-a-long/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Antics"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor-awake-looking-down-a-long/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/william-faulkner-306_antics_i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor_2796959.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/william-faulkner-306_antics_i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor_2796959.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/william-faulkner-306_antics_i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor_2796959.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“…I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor awake looking down a long corridor of gray half light where all…” — William Faulkner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Faulkner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "…I seemed to be lying neither...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor-awake-looking-down-a-long/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-seemed-to-be-lying-neither-asleep-nor-awake-looking-down-a-long/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```