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Acquaintance Quote by Henry David Thoreau

“I have lately got back to that glorious society called Solitude, where we meet our friends continually, and can imagine the outside world also to be peopled. Yet some of my acquaintance would fain hustle me into the almshouse for the sake of society, as if I were pining for that diet, when I seem…” quote by Henry David Thoreau
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“I have lately got back to that glorious society called Solitude, where we meet our friends continually, and can imagine the outside world also to be peopled. Yet some of my acquaintance would fain hustle me into the almshouse for the sake of society, as if I were pining for that diet, when I seem to myself a most befriended man, and find constant employment. However, they do not believe a word I say.”

Henry David Thoreau

About This Quote

Source Book: Walden, Henry David Thoreau, 1854

Thoreau celebrates solitude as a space for inner friendship and imagination, rejecting society’s pressure to conform.

In simple terms: Solitude offers inner companionship and creative freedom.

Key Takeaway

Embrace solitude to nurture inner life.

Themes

solitude individualism friendship

Mood

contemplative peaceful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • personal reflection
  • creative writing
  • mental health
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

transcendentalism self-reliance imagination

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does solitude enrich your inner relationships?
  • What fears arise when you reject social expectations?
A Different Perspective

Society may view solitude as isolation, limiting its perceived value.

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