We may lose our memory as we get older, but this might not be such a bad thing - who wants to drag a mental junkyard around at a time of life when you're starting to grow interesting little wings?
Michael LeunigRead
What a magical thing is the bed, and what a vulnerable, innocent creature is the sleeping human - the human who never looks more truthful or pitiful or benign; the curled-up, childlike dreaming soul who has for a few hours become an angel adrift.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the beauty and vulnerability of humans in their sleeping state.
Michael Leunig's quote captures the essence of human vulnerability and purity during sleep, likening a person in slumber to an innocent and peaceful creature. It emphasizes the transformation that occurs when we fall asleep, revealing our most truthful selves as we temporarily escape the complexities of daily life and embrace a state of dreaming, reminiscent of an angelic being.
Themes
SleepVulnerabilityInnocenceHuman NatureDreams
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of rest, I highlighted the quote to emphasize the beauty of sleep.
More from Michael Leunig
All quotes →Sometimes I wonder if the semi-conscious agenda of the media is to get between people and their souls. It is the the soul with its myriad tiny nerve endings that notices the neglected pathos, poignancy and practicality that lies at the heart of life. It's as if the media are somehow irritated and envious that anonymous people should have the quiet brilliance of their rich and sustainable inner lives.
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Perhaps life is actually more confusing and unknowable to an adult than a child, but grown-ups have learned to deceive themselves and act as if they understand what's going on; and some are elected to high office on the basis of their ability to create this impression.
Michael LeunigRead
So few humans seem to fully exist themselves that I wonder if all this endless speculation and haggling about God is really an exploration of a more interesting and embarrassing question about ourselves.
Michael LeunigRead
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