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Jessica stopped beside him, said: 'What delicious abandon in the sleep of a child.' He spoke mechanically: 'If only adults could relax like that.' 'Yes.' 'Where do we lose it?' he murmured. 'We do, indeed, lose something,' she said.
Frank Herbert
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on the carefree nature of childhood and contrasts it with the burdens of adulthood.

This quote highlights the perceived freedom and innocence found in the sleep of a child, symbolizing a state of complete relaxation and peace that often eludes adults. The dialogue between the characters suggests a deep contemplation about the loss of simplicity and ease as one grows up, prompting the question of where that sense of abandon disappears in life.

Themes

ChildhoodAbandonFreedomAdulthoodSimplicity

In practice

Example use cases

During a conversation about parenting, one might say, 'What delicious abandon in the sleep of a child.'

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It is impossible to live in the past, difficult to live in the present and a waste to live in the future.
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