Answers Quote by Dani Shapiro
“In the country, I stopped being a person who, in the words of Sylvia Boorstein, startles easily. I grew calmer, but beneath that calm was a deep well of loneliness I hadn't known was there. ... Anxiety was my fuel. When I stopped, it was all waiting for me: fear, anger, grief, despair, and that terrible, terrible loneliness. What was it about? I was hardly alone. I loved my husband and son. I had great friends, colleagues, students. In the quiet, in the extra hours, I was forced to ask the question, and to listen carefully to the answer: I was lonely for myself. [p. 123]”
About This Quote
Source Memoir: "The Art of Being Alone", 2018
Calmness can mask deep loneliness; confronting it reveals an inner void that fuels anxiety and other emotions.
In simple terms: Calm can hide loneliness; facing it shows inner emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and explore inner loneliness.
Themes
loneliness
self‑reflection
anxiety
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
introspective
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- therapy
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
inner void
self‑awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does your inner loneliness teach you?
- How can you turn anxiety into insight?
A Different Perspective
Loneliness may be a symptom of deeper issues, not the cause.
