Accepting Quote by Gene Wolfe
“We choose--or choose not--to be alone when we decide whom we will accept as our fellows, and whom we will reject. Thus an eremite in a mountain is in company, because the birds and coneys, the initiates whose words live in his 'forest books,' and the winds--the messengers of the Increate--are his companions. Another man, living in the midst of millions, may be alone, because there are none but enemies and victims around him.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe, 1980
Human connection is chosen; solitude can be found among thoughts, nature, or crowds, depending on perception.
In simple terms: We pick our companions, real or imagined.
Key Takeaway
Choose meaningful connections.
Themes
loneliness
choice
perception
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- community building
Key Concepts
existentialism
social psychology
literary metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What companions do you cherish?
- How does perception shape your sense of isolation?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing solitude may ignore real social needs.
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