--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has been said that no great work in…" description: "\"It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/austin-phelps-42777_alone-with-god_it-has-been-said-that-no-great-work-in-l_2822491.jpg" --- # It has been said that no great work in literature or in… ![“It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God.” quote by Austin Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/austin-phelps-42777_alone-with-god_it-has-been-said-that-no-great-work-in-l_2822491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/austin-phelps-42777_alone-with-god_it-has-been-said-that-no-great-work-in-l_2822491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/austin-phelps-42777_alone-with-god_it-has-been-said-that-no-great-work-in-l_2822491.jpg) > “It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God.” [Austin Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-phelps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great creative or scientific work often emerges from solitude, suggesting that deep, uninterrupted contemplation fosters profound growth. **In simple terms:** Solitude nurtures great work. Key Takeaway Create space for alone time to deepen insight. Themes solitude creativity spirituality growth Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - writing retreats - research labs - spiritual meditation Key Concepts psychology of solitude creative process Questions to Reflect On - How much solitude is optimal? - What balance between alone and together yields best results? A Different Perspective Collaboration can also spark innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone with god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone-with-god/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Elementals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elementals/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) ## Related quotes > [“A Christian sins if he becomes a static, sedentary person who fears positive biblical change and frantically clings to the past, either in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/a-christian-sins-if-he-becomes-a-static-sedentary-person-who-fears/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“He was careful to avoid meeting anyone. There was Stubbs, the gardener, coming along the path. He hid behind a tree till he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/he-was-careful-to-avoid-meeting-anyone-there-was-stubbs-the-gardener/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“...I got to love solitude - to see the Moon rise and set - I had time to watch it trace the window square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/i-got-to-love-solitude-to-see-the-moon-rise-and-set-i-had-time-to/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [In that Macondo forgotten even by the birds, where the dust and the heat had become so strong that it was difficult to breathe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/in-that-macondo-forgotten-even-by-the-birds-where-the-dust-and-the/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [“Therefore, dear Sir, love your solitude and try to sing out with the pain it causes you. For those who are near you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/therefore-dear-sir-love-your-solitude-and-try-to-sing-out-with-the-2/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [It is advisable to over react whenever your partner is in trouble. It is an opportunity to express your love and solitude to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldyna-threesya/it-is-advisable-to-over-react-whenever-your-partner-is-in-trouble-it/) [Aldyna Threesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldyna-threesya/) > [I guess it all depends on your nature. Some people can't stand being alone. I love solitude and silence. But when I come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/i-guess-it-all-depends-on-your-nature-some-people-can-t-stand-being/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [. . . clumsiness is often mated with a love of solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/clumsiness-is-often-mated-with-a-love-of-solitude/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [I love the solitude of being in a tree with a bow and arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/i-love-the-solitude-of-being-in-a-tree-with-a-bow-and-arrow/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [I love my solitude, and I would love it still more if I had more of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/i-love-my-solitude-and-i-would-love-it-still-more-if-i-had-more-of-it/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) > [Although I am a gregarious person, I love solitude even more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/although-i-am-a-gregarious-person-i-love-solitude-even-more/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Therefore, dear Sir, love your solitude and try to sing out with the pain it causes you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/therefore-dear-sir-love-your-solitude-and-try-to-sing-out-with-the/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [The love of solitude, when cultivated in the morn of life, elevates the mind to a noble independence, but to acquire the advantages which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/the-love-of-solitude-when-cultivated-in-the-morn-of-life-elevates-the/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [I love solitude, but I prize it most when plenty of company is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-love-solitude-but-i-prize-it-most-when-plenty-of-company-is/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [She frowned at him. 'You are in love with solitude.' 'Is there a better cure for the world than solitude?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-rosoff/she-frowned-at-him-you-are-in-love-with-solitude-is-there-a-better/) [Meg Rosoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-rosoff/) ## More by Austin Phelps > [We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-phelps/we-are-never-more-like-christ-than-in-prayers-of-intercession/) [Austin Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-phelps/) > [Christianity is the only system of faith which combines religious beliefs with corresponding principles of morality. It builds ethics on religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-phelps/christianity-is-the-only-system-of-faith-which-combines-religious/) [Austin Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-phelps/) > [Are you living for the things you are praying for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-phelps/are-you-living-for-the-things-you-are-praying-for/) [Austin Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-phelps/) > [Vigilance in watching opportunity, tact and daring in seizing upon opportunity, force and persistence in crowding opportunity to its utmost of possible achievement -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-phelps/vigilance-in-watching-opportunity-tact-and-daring-in-seizing-upon/) [Austin Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-phelps/) > [The most intelligent hearers are those who enjoy most heartily the simplest preaching. 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It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-phelps/a-disciplined-conscience-is-a-man-s-best-friend-it-may-not-be-his/) [Austin Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-phelps/) [Explore all 10 Austin Phelps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-phelps/) ## More Alone with god quotes > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [Snuggle in God's arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely, left out. let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/snuggle-in-god-s-arms-when-you-are-hurting-when-you-feel-lonely-left/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-green/if-your-heart-takes-more-pleasure-in-reading-novels-or-watching-tv-or/) [Keith Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-green/) > [God has spoken very boldly about his desire to be a presence in our lives. 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Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/for-ragamuffins-god-s-name-is-mercy-we-see-our-darkness-as-a-prized/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“If you walk in the Spirit, know your Bible, and spend sufficient time alone with God, your theology will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall-2/if-you-walk-in-the-spirit-know-your-bible-and-spend-sufficient-time/) [R.T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall-2/) > [One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is time alone with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/one-of-the-best-gifts-we-can-give-ourselves-is-time-alone-with-god/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Screw all this shit! I'm stronger and better than this God did not make me so I could wollow in self pitty! I'm movin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-cadoza/screw-all-this-shit-i-m-stronger-and-better-than-this-god-did-not/) Keren Cadoza > [People sometimes ask me if I do not feel lonely on holidays. How can I feel lonely when I live in the constant awareness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/people-sometimes-ask-me-if-i-do-not-feel-lonely-on-holidays-how-can-i/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [In life we question ourselves on different through and challenges that we comprehend and we may fail at first and tried and tried again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-cross/in-life-we-question-ourselves-on-different-through-and-challenges/) Logan Cross > [Look at your ministry as a marathon not a sprint - build deep foundations of intimacy with God and never let your public schedule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-beeching/look-at-your-ministry-as-a-marathon-not-a-sprint-build-deep/) [Vicky Beeching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-beeching/) > [There are few professing Christians, it may be feared, who strive to imitate Christ in the matter of private devotion. There is abundance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/there-are-few-professing-christians-it-may-be-feared-who-strive-to/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [“I have attended church-service in the garrisons, and tried hard...to join in the prayers...but never could raise within me the solemn feelings and true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenimore-cooper/i-have-attended-church-service-in-the-garrisons-and-tried-hard-to/) [James Fenimore Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenimore-cooper/) > [There is music in silence, and in silence one finds the truth. 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