" 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 for ever – 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 for ever and ever? "

― Philip Pullman , The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3)