“If men only felt about death as they do about sleep, all terrors would cease… Men sleep contentedly, assured that they will wake the following morning. They should feel the same about their lives.”

—  Richard Matheson , book What Dreams May Come

Source: What Dreams May Come

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "If men only felt about death as they do about sleep, all terrors would cease… Men sleep contentedly, assured that they …" by Richard Matheson?
Richard Matheson photo
Richard Matheson 58
American fiction writer 1926–2013

Related quotes

John Steinbeck photo

“Men all do about the same thing when they wake up.”

John Steinbeck book Cannery Row

Source: Cannery Row

Woody Allen photo

“Agathon: But all that talk about death being the same as sleep.
Socrates: Yes, the difference is that when you're dead and somebody yells, "Everybody up, it's morning," it's very hard to find your slippers.”

Woody Allen book Side Effects

Side Effects (1980), My Apology

Warren Farrell photo

“The rules of sexism do not free men from the terror of violence; they only keep men from complaining about it.”

Warren Farrell (1943) author, spokesperson, expert witness, political candidate

Source: Why Men Are the Way They Are (1988), p. 232.

Margaret Mead photo

“Young people are moving away from feeling guilty about sleeping with somebody to feeling guilty if they are *not* sleeping with someone.”

Margaret Mead (1901–1978) American anthropologist
Cormac McCarthy photo

“The wrath of God lies sleeping. It was hid a million years before men were and only men have power to wake it. Hell ain't half full.”

Cormac McCarthy book Blood Meridian

Source: Blood Meridian (1985), Chapter III

Thomas Jackson photo

“Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”

Thomas Jackson (1824–1863) Confederate general

Speaking to Captain John D. Imboden (24 July 1861), as quoted in Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 25; sometimes quoted as "My religious beliefs teach me..."

Eldon Hoke photo

“Interviewer: Do you guys really live the lifestyle that you sing about in your songs?
El Duce: Absolutely. All our songs are about reality. Like Sleep Bandits.”

Eldon Hoke (1958–1997) Singer, musician

El Duce, The Man, The Myth, The Video (1993) by Reverend Cuntbag

Mark Heard photo

“Music is a solace for me now. As I age, contrary to common sense, I am more and more drawn into it and apt to spend more of my waking and some of my sleeping hours thinking about it, or just feeling about it. It is my escape.”

Mark Heard (1951–1992) American musician and record producer

Life in the Industry: A Musician's Diary

Georgia O'Keeffe photo

“I thought you could write something about me that men can't – What I want written – I do not know – I have no definite idea of what it should be. – but a woman who has lived many things and who sees lines and colors as an expression of living – might say something that a man can't – I feel there is something unexplored about woman that only a woman can explore – Men have done all they can do about it. Does that mean anything to you – or doesn't it?”

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) American artist

In a letter to Mabel Dodge Luhan, New York 1925; as quoted in Voicing our visions, – Writings by women artists, ed. Mara R. Witzling, Universe New York, 1991, p. 224
1920s

Stephen Vincent Benét photo

“I'm waiting. … For something new and strange,
Something I've dreamt about in some deep sleep,
Truer than any waking”

Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943) poet, short story writer, novelist

Innkeeper's wife
A Child is Born (1942)
Context: I'm waiting. … For something new and strange,
Something I've dreamt about in some deep sleep,
Truer than any waking,
Heard about, long ago, so long ago,
In sunshine and the summer grass of childhood,
When the sky seems so near.
I do not know its shape, its will, its purpose
And yet all day its will has been upon me,
More real than any voice I ever heard,
More real than yours or mine or our dead child's,
More real than all the voices there upstairs,
Brawling above their cups, more real than light.
And there is light in it and fire and peace,
Newness of heart and strangeness like a sword,
And all my body trembles under it,
And yet I do not know.

Related topics