Content thyself to be obscurely good.
When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,
The post of honor is a private station.
—Joseph Addison, 1713
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our
own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the
independence of solitude.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1840
I never found companion that was so companionable as solitude.
—Henry David Thoreau, 1854
What is necessary, after all, is only this: solitude, vast inner solitude.
—Rainer Maria Rilke, 1929
The world is a prison in which solitary confinement is preferable.
—Jiddu Krishnamurti, 1971
7
Do not rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all life’s greatest
tests alone.
—Agnes Macphail, 1924
The strongest man in the world is the man who stands alone.
—Henrik Ibsen, 1882
The heroes, the saints and sages – they are those who face the world alone.
—Norman Douglas, 1917
To be alone is the fate of all great minds – a fate deplored at times, but still always chosen
as the less grievous of two evils.
—Arthur Schopenhauer, 1851
To be alone is to be different, to be different is to be alone.
—Suzanne Gordon, 1976
To be an adult is to be alone.
—Jean Rostand, 1954
All our evils come from not being able to be on our own.
—Jean de la Bruyère, 1688
If you are afraid of being lonely, don’t try to be right.
—Jules Renard
8
***
7
Sometimes misattributed to Karl Kraus, who arranged the 1971 publication of J. Krishnamurti’s
work, and sometimes quoted him.
8
As quoted, without a date, in a few generally reliable collections, starting not later than 1977.
On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization
149
When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,
The post of honor is a private station.
—Joseph Addison, 1713
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our
own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the
independence of solitude.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1840
I never found companion that was so companionable as solitude.
—Henry David Thoreau, 1854
What is necessary, after all, is only this: solitude, vast inner solitude.
—Rainer Maria Rilke, 1929
The world is a prison in which solitary confinement is preferable.
—Jiddu Krishnamurti, 1971
7
Do not rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all life’s greatest
tests alone.
—Agnes Macphail, 1924
The strongest man in the world is the man who stands alone.
—Henrik Ibsen, 1882
The heroes, the saints and sages – they are those who face the world alone.
—Norman Douglas, 1917
To be alone is the fate of all great minds – a fate deplored at times, but still always chosen
as the less grievous of two evils.
—Arthur Schopenhauer, 1851
To be alone is to be different, to be different is to be alone.
—Suzanne Gordon, 1976
To be an adult is to be alone.
—Jean Rostand, 1954
All our evils come from not being able to be on our own.
—Jean de la Bruyère, 1688
If you are afraid of being lonely, don’t try to be right.
—Jules Renard
8
***
7
Sometimes misattributed to Karl Kraus, who arranged the 1971 publication of J. Krishnamurti’s
work, and sometimes quoted him.
8
As quoted, without a date, in a few generally reliable collections, starting not later than 1977.
On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization
149