At Swim-Two-Birds

by Flann O'Brien

We must invert our conception of repose and activity, he continued. We should not sleep to recover the energy expended when awake but rather wake occasionally to defecate the unwanted energy that sleep engenders. This might be done quickly—a five-mile race at full tilt around the town and then back to bed and the kingdom of the shadows.

His wits then took leave of him and remained at a distance for a long period of time.