--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In solitude we become aware that we were…" description: "\"In solitude we become aware that we were together before we came together and that life is not a creation of our will but rather an obedient response t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/henri-nouwen-600_creation_in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were_2256273.png" --- # In solitude we become aware that we were together before… ![“In solitude we become aware that we were together before we came together and that life is not a creation of our will but rather an obedient response to the reality of our being united.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/henri-nouwen-600_creation_in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were_2256273.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/henri-nouwen-600_creation_in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were_2256273.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/henri-nouwen-600_creation_in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were_2256273.png) > “In solitude we become aware that we were together before we came together and that life is not a creation of our will but rather an obedient response to the reality of our being united.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Solitude reveals that our unity predates conscious partnership, showing life as a responsive unfolding rather than a willful creation. **In simple terms:** Alone we see we were always connected, life responds to being together. Key Takeaway Embrace community as a natural, responsive state. Themes solitude unity existence Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - group therapy - relationship building - creative collaboration Key Concepts spirituality interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How does solitude change your view of connection? - What does it mean to be an obedient response to reality? A Different Perspective Alone can also obscure the sense of shared purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aware Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware-came-5174364/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creation Obedient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-obedient-5174365/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Obedient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedient/) [Obedient Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedient-response-5174363/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Solitude Aware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude-aware-5174362/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [In solitude we become aware that our worth is not the same as our usefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-our-worth-is-not-the-same-as-our/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“Agape is an obedient response of availability to God, not a feeling. But, although it is not a feeling, its ultimate end is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/agape-is-an-obedient-response-of-availability-to-god-not-a-feeling/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Sometimes God allows us to explore the 'whys' of His instructions. Other times He wants us to obey 'because He said so.' Has God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/sometimes-god-allows-us-to-explore-the-whys-of-his-instructions-other/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [My worst work happens when I get obedient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wincott/my-worst-work-happens-when-i-get-obedient/) [Michael Wincott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wincott/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [ For the religious, passivism \[i.e., objects are obedient to the laws of nature\] provides a clear role of God as the author of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ellis/for-the-religious-passivism-i-e-objects-are-obedient-to-the-laws-of/) [Brian Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ellis/) > [You have to have pace, you have to have high production values, you have to have interesting graphics, and you have to have attractive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/you-have-to-have-pace-you-have-to-have-high-production-values-you/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction! Be heroes in an army of construction!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-not-dumb-obedient-slaves-in-an-army-of-destruction-be-heroes-in-an/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The pain of loneliness is one way in which he wants to get our attention. We may be earnestly desiring to be obedient and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-pain-of-loneliness-is-one-way-in-which-he-wants-to-get-our/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Be ever more obedient to God and He will save you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pachomius-the-great/be-ever-more-obedient-to-god-and-he-will-save-you/) [Pachomius the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pachomius-the-great/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [You know what they want? They want obedient workers. Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-what-they-want-they-want-obedient-workers-obedient-workers/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Jesus set an example for us to follow: a life of loving, obedient service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/jesus-set-an-example-for-us-to-follow-a-life-of-loving-obedient/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [I do know this... I seem to reach a lot of previously unchurched people. So many people have told me they never went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-do-know-this-i-seem-to-reach-a-lot-of-previously-unchurched-people/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The good teachings thoughts are not obedient to any religious boundaries . These things are justgood and true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-good-teachings-thoughts-are-not-obedient-to-any-religious/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Creation quotes > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [I believe if there is a creator it will basically ask me two questions, how well did you enjoy my creation and what did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-believe-if-there-is-a-creator-it-will-basically-ask-me-two/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) [Browse all 5,225 Creation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In solitude we become aware that we were together before we came together and that life is not a creation of our will but rather an obedient response to the reality of our being united.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Nouwen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were-together-before-we-came/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were-together-before-we-came/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/henri-nouwen-600_creation_in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were_2256273.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/henri-nouwen-600_creation_in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were_2256273.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/henri-nouwen-600_creation_in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were_2256273.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In solitude we become aware that we were together before we came together and that life is not a creation of…” — Henri Nouwen", "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": "Henri Nouwen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In solitude we become aware that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were-together-before-we-came/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-solitude-we-become-aware-that-we-were-together-before-we-came/#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 } } ] } ```