When I seemed to be irritable or sad, my father would quote the learned Dr. Knight, and then say, ’Just go to sleep.’ Like all smart aleck kids, I thought the advice was silly. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized just how smart Knight was.

Stein recalls a childhood lesson in emotional regulation: when he was moody or upset, his father’s remedy—attributed to “Dr. Knight”—was simply to sleep. The adult Stein reframes what once felt like dismissive parental advice as practical wisdom. The quote suggests that irritability and sadness are often intensified by fatigue, and that rest can reset perception, reduce reactivity, and restore perspective. It also captures a common maturation arc: youthful skepticism toward simple solutions gives way to appreciation for basic, embodied needs (sleep, routine) as foundations for mental steadiness.