Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows.

At any moment solitude may put on the face of loneliness.

Even though I get a lot done with my solitude, and I make the best use of it possible, I always think solitude is an interlude in a period of time, which is populated by others.

Little as she was addicted to solitude, there had come to be moments when it seemed a welcome escape from the empty noises of her life.

I have not a desire but a need for solitude.

I feel better when I am not around people. When I am alone, alone, alone.

One's need for loneliness is not satisfied if one sits at a table alone. There must be empty chairs as well.

I was never less alone than when by myself.

Mostly I stay at home from the morning until 5 P.M., and I only go out for fittings and shoots because I work at home. I like to be alone.

One of the odd enjoyments in life is to be alone in a room full of people. To have them there as unknowing human filler in your wide shot.

I've always been alone. I grew up alone. I like it that way. Even when I'm in an arena surrounded by 10,000 people, I'm alone in my head.

You may not enjoy loneliness, because loneliness is sad. But solitude is something else; solitude is what you look forward to when you want to be alone, when you want to be with yourself. So, solitude is something we all need from time to time.

There might be some hours of loneliness. But there was something wonderful even in loneliness. At least you belonged to yourself when you were lonely.

All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot!

You may never be less alone than when you are alone.

I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers. A man thinking or working is always alone, let him be where he will.

One ought to sink to the bottom of the sea, probably, and live alone with one's words.

Solitude matters. And for some people it's the air they breathe.

I am no longer alone with myself, and I can only artificially recall the scary and beautiful feeling of solitude. This is the shadow side of the fortune of love.

Woe unto him that is never alone, and cannot bear to be alone.

And this that you call solitude is in fact a big crowd.

I wasn't a misanthrope and I wasn't a misogynist but I liked being alone. It felt good to sit alone in a small space and smoke and drink. I had always been good company for myself.

Solitude desolates me; company oppresses me.

Solitude may rust your words.

I also like a lot of silence, and when you're touring, it's constantly noise, all the time, you're surrounded with 15 or 20 people the entire time. I find that tough.