I can’t bear the thought of oblivion, Asriel, ” she continued. “Sooner anything than that. I used to think pain would be worse–to be tortured forever– I thought that must be worse. .. But as long as you were conscious, it would be better, wouldn’t it? Better than feeling nothing, just going into the dark, everything going out forever and ever? Philip Pullman
About This Quote

The quote, “I can’t bear the thought of oblivion, Asriel,” she continued. “Sooner anything than that. I used to think pain would be worse—to be tortured forever—I thought that must be worse . .

. But as long as you were conscious, it would be better, wouldn’t it? Better than feeling nothing, just going into the dark, everything going out forever and ever?," is a popular saying in which a person states that they would rather feel pain for a short period of time if it means feeling something after that pain ends. The quote is particularly poignant in light of the fact that Asriel felt no pain when he was taken away from his mother.

In many cases, people who have been through a great deal of suffering may become desensitized to the pain they have endured. Another interpretation of this quote could be that it is better to have some small amount of pain than nothing at all.

Source: The Amber Spyglass

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