“I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time.”
Henry David Thoreau
SolitudePeace
Alone Quotes
200 FAMOUS QUOTES · ALONE
Alone Quotes
Read 200 of the best alone quotes on solitude, loneliness and finding peace in your own company from Thoreau, Emerson, Emily Dickinson and more.
“I have a great deal of company in my house; especially in the morning, when nobody calls.”
Henry David Thoreau
SolitudeFunny
“Why should I feel lonely? Is not our planet in the Milky Way?”
Henry David Thoreau
LonelinessPerspective
“I am no more lonely than a single mullein or dandelion in a pasture, or a bean leaf, or sorrel, or a horse-fly, or a humble-bee.”
Henry David Thoreau
NatureSolitude
“A man thinking or working is always alone, let him be where he will.”
Henry David Thoreau
WorkSolitude
“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
IndependenceIndividuality
“To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
SolitudeNature
“Solitude is impracticable, and society fatal.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
BalanceSolitude
“Men descend to meet.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
SocietyIndividuality
“The greatest thing in the world is for a man to know that he is his own.”
Michel de Montaigne
Self-RelianceFreedom
“We must reserve a back shop, wholly our own and entirely free, wherein to settle our true liberty, our principal solitude and retreat.”
Michel de Montaigne
Personal SpaceFreedom
“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can.”
Seneca
SolitudeSelf-Reflection
“You need a change of soul rather than a change of climate.”
Seneca
Inner PeaceTravel
“Retire into thyself. The rational principle which rules has this nature, that it is content with itself when it does what is just, and so secures tranquillity.”
Marcus Aurelius
Inner PeaceTranquility
“When you are alone, call this condition tranquillity and freedom, and consider yourself like the gods.”
Epictetus
FreedomTranquility
“He was never less idle than when he was idle, nor less alone than when he was alone.”
Cicero
SolitudeThinking
“It is not good that the man should be alone.”
The Bible (Genesis 2:18)
LonelinessCompanionship
“God setteth the solitary in families.”
The Bible (Psalm 68:6)
FamilyFaith
“He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
The Bible (Matthew 14:23)
PrayerSolitude
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
The Bible (Hebrews 13:5)
FaithComfort
“Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.”
The Bible (Mark 6:31)
RestSolitude
“If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no companionship with a fool.”
Buddha (Dhammapada)
JourneyWisdom
“Let him wander alone like a rhinoceros.”
Buddha (Sutta Nipata)
IndependenceJourney
“If they answer not to thy call, walk alone.”
Rabindranath Tagore
CourageWalk Alone
“When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state.”
William Shakespeare
LonelinessSadness
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About Alone Quotes
Being alone can feel like two very different things. Sometimes it is lonely and heavy; other times it is the peaceful solitude where we rest, think clearly and find ourselves again. Poets and philosophers have written about both sides for thousands of years.
This collection brings together 200 of the best alone quotes from great writers and thinkers, including Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson, William Wordsworth, Michel de Montaigne and Rabindranath Tagore. Whether you are enjoying your own company or going through a lonely time, these quotes remind you that you are not the only one who has felt this way.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Alone quotes.
What is the best quote about being alone?
Thoreau's line "I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time" is one of the most loved quotes about solitude. Byron's phrase about solitude being where "we are least alone" is another favourite for people who enjoy their own company.
What is the difference between being alone and being lonely?
Being alone is simply being by yourself, which can feel peaceful and freeing, while loneliness is the painful feeling of being disconnected from others. Many great writers, including Emerson and Montaigne, saw time alone as healthy and necessary for a balanced life.
What are short alone quotes for Instagram or WhatsApp status?
Popular short options include "In solitude, where we are least alone," "Now I am alone," "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" and "If they answer not to thy call, walk alone." These make powerful captions and status lines.
What did Rabindranath Tagore say about walking alone?
Tagore's famous song "Ekla Chalo Re" tells us to keep walking alone if no one answers our call. It became a song of courage during India's freedom movement and was one of Mahatma Gandhi's favourites.
What are some quotes about enjoying your own company?
Montaigne advised keeping a private "back shop" for your own freedom and solitude, and Schopenhauer said a person is only truly free when alone. Thoreau also joked that he had plenty of company in the morning when nobody called.
How can quotes about being alone help?
Alone quotes can bring comfort during lonely times by reminding you that great thinkers felt the same way. They can also help you see solitude as a chance to rest, reflect and grow rather than something to fear.