“I often wake up in the night, and I like to have something to think about.”

- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“I often wake up in the night, and I like to have something to think about.”
Explanation
This quiet, introspective quote offers a glimpse into Marilyn Monroe’s inner life and emotional solitude. The act of waking in the night, when the world is still and the mind is most unguarded, suggests a restlessness of spirit or mind. Rather than fearing these moments of wakefulness, Monroe seeks to fill them with thought, indicating a need for mental companionship or reflection—something to hold onto in the silence.
Her desire “to have something to think about” reflects a deep intellectual and emotional yearning. It challenges the common perception of her as merely a glamorous icon by showing a woman who relied on thought as a source of comfort or stability, perhaps in the face of anxiety, loneliness, or sleeplessness. These quiet mental habits reveal a Monroe who was sensitive, contemplative, and often alone with her thoughts, even in a life surrounded by people and fame.
Today, this quote resonates with anyone who has experienced sleepless nights filled with reflection, memory, or imagination. It reminds us that even in solitude, the mind seeks nourishment. Monroe’s words affirm that thought can be a kind of companionship, and in a world of constant distraction, there is something deeply human in wanting a quiet thought to rest with in the dark.
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