--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's leave one alive so that it can be…" description: "\"Let's leave one alive so that it can be lonely.\" — Arundhati Roy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/arundhati-roy-346_alive_let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be_1068283.png" --- # Let's leave one alive so that it can be lonely. ![“Let's leave one alive so that it can be lonely.” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/arundhati-roy-346_alive_let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be_1068283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/arundhati-roy-346_alive_let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be_1068283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/arundhati-roy-346_alive_let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be_1068283.png) > “Let's leave one alive so that it can be lonely.” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A warning that sparing one life may condemn it to isolation and suffering. **In simple terms:** Saving one can cause loneliness. Key Takeaway Consider the broader impact of rescue. Themes ethics loneliness consequences Mood reflective somber Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - humanitarian aid - refugee resettlement - medical decisions - environmental conservation Key Concepts moral philosophy social isolation Questions to Reflect On - Is rescue always beneficial? - How can we prevent isolation after saving? A Different Perspective Loneliness may persist despite rescue, requiring ongoing support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) ## Related quotes > [It was sad and fierce all at once, alive with a lonely purity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/it-was-sad-and-fierce-all-at-once-alive-with-a-lonely-purity/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [You dont know how hard it was for me to take you and leave them alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/you-dont-know-how-hard-it-was-for-me-to-take-you-and-leave-them-alive/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [An excess of science will leave none of us alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/an-excess-of-science-will-leave-none-of-us-alive/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [It was very hard you cant imagine how hard for me to simply take you away, and leave them alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-cullen/it-was-very-hard-you-cant-imagine-how-hard-for-me-to-simply-take-you/) [Edward Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-cullen/) > [The only dream worth having, I told her, is to dream that you will live while you're alive and die only when you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-only-dream-worth-having-i-told-her-is-to-dream-that-you-will-live/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Let's leave all this and get away, get lost in time,where there's no reason left to hide, let's leave all this and get away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wright/let-s-leave-all-this-and-get-away-get-lost-in-time-where-there-s-no/) [Brian Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wright/) > [“Let's Leave like we are a Brother and i sister who will not stop loving each other...-Hope Tban”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-t-ban/let-s-leave-like-we-are-a-brother-and-i-sister-who-will-not-stop/) Hope T-Ban > [I'll never ever let you leave me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-veronicas/i-ll-never-ever-let-you-leave-me/) [The Veronicas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-veronicas/) > [Let us leave every man at liberty to seek into him and to lose himself in his ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/let-us-leave-every-man-at-liberty-to-seek-into-him-and-to-lose/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Let me go, leave me be, set me free now lets see how you do without me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan/let-me-go-leave-me-be-set-me-free-now-lets-see-how-you-do-without-me/) [Megan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan/) > [And you tried to change, didnt you? Closed your mouth more. Tried to be softer, prettier, less volatile, less awake¦ You cant make homes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warsan-shire/and-you-tried-to-change-didnt-you-closed-your-mouth-more-tried-to-be/) [Warsan Shire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warsan-shire/) > [If it was up to me I'd be wit you till da end. If it was up to me I'd never let you leave.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shar-rae/if-it-was-up-to-me-i-d-be-wit-you-till-da-end-if-it-was-up-to-me-i-d/) [Shar-rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shar-rae/) > [“let it go let it leave let it happen nothing in this world was promised or belonged to you anyway - all you own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/let-it-go-let-it-leave-let-it-happen-nothing-in-this-world-was/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [“No, I’m not ever letting you go.” His words were raw with emotion. “I’ll let you leave here right now, but I’m not giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurelin-paige/no-i-m-not-ever-letting-you-go-his-words-were-raw-with-emotion-i-ll/) [Laurelin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurelin-paige/) > [“I tried to do the right thing. Why couldn't you just let me leave?" (Kellan)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/i-tried-to-do-the-right-thing-why-couldn-t-you-just-let-me-leave/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Poverty is a crime and the poor are terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/poverty-is-a-crime-and-the-poor-are-terrorists/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I've never been that person who thought that because I've written one novel, I should write another and another. It's only when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-ve-never-been-that-person-who-thought-that-because-i-ve-written-one/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I think one of the saddest things that's happening to literature is that it's getting over-simplified by this diet of simple political ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-think-one-of-the-saddest-things-that-s-happening-to-literature-is/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The only dream worth having, I told her, is to dream that you will live while you're alive and die only when you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-only-dream-worth-having-i-told-her-is-to-dream-that-you-will-live/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [But what was there to say? Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Truly, there's no alternative to stupidity. Cretinism is the mother of fascism. I have no defence against it, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/truly-there-s-no-alternative-to-stupidity-cretinism-is-the-mother-of/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-secret-of-the-great-stories-is-that-they-have-no-secrets-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“stilts, the ground floors given over to parking. It’s a good idea in this car-maddened city,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/stilts-the-ground-floors-given-over-to-parking-it-s-a-good-idea-in/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let's leave one alive so that it can be lonely.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arundhati Roy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be-lonely/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be-lonely/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/arundhati-roy-346_alive_let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be_1068283.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/arundhati-roy-346_alive_let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be_1068283.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/arundhati-roy-346_alive_let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be_1068283.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let's leave one alive so that it can be lonely.” — Arundhati Roy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arundhati Roy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let's leave one alive so that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be-lonely/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/let-s-leave-one-alive-so-that-it-can-be-lonely/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```