--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have an immense appetite for solitude…" description: "\"I have an immense appetite for solitude, like an infant for sleep, and if I don't get enough for this year, I shall cry all the next.\" — Henry David Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/henry-david-thoreau-20_appetite_i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude_1548574.jpg" --- # I have an immense appetite for solitude, like an infant… ![“I have an immense appetite for solitude, like an infant for sleep, and if I don't get enough for this year, I shall cry all the next.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/henry-david-thoreau-20_appetite_i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude_1548574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/henry-david-thoreau-20_appetite_i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude_1548574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/henry-david-thoreau-20_appetite_i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude_1548574.jpg) > “I have an immense appetite for solitude, like an infant for sleep, and if I don't get enough for this year, I shall cry all the next.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author compares his need for solitude to a child's need for sleep, warning that lack will cause prolonged distress. **In simple terms:** Needs alone time like a baby needs sleep. Key Takeaway Prioritize regular solitude for emotional health. Themes solitude self‑care balance Mood contemplative reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - remote work - creative projects - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology needs well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How much solitude do you need daily? - What activities replenish you after social overload? A Different Perspective Excessive isolation can become harmful if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) [Appetite Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite-solitude-5782726/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Immense Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immense-appetite-4904750/) [Infant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infant/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Solitude Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude-like-317317/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The immense appetite we have for biography comes from a deep-seated sense of equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-immense-appetite-we-have-for-biography-comes-from-a-deep-seated/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [I have a healthy appetite for solitude. If you don't, you have no business being a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/i-have-a-healthy-appetite-for-solitude-if-you-don-t-you-have-no/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [“I was a man who thrived on solitude; without it I was like another man without food or water. Each day without solitude weakened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-was-a-man-who-thrived-on-solitude-without-it-i-was-like-another-man-2/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I like solitude. I like the anomalous life. I like a quiet life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-like-solitude-i-like-the-anomalous-life-i-like-a-quiet-life/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [“She was stubborn. She was evolving. She needed SOLITUDE like normal people needed exercise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-vander-ark-2/she-was-stubborn-she-was-evolving-she-needed-solitude-like-normal/) [Jake Vander-Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-vander-ark-2/) > [For myself, solitude is rather like a folded-up forest that I carry with me everywhere and unfurl around myself when I have need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/for-myself-solitude-is-rather-like-a-folded-up-forest-that-i-carry/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Stranger, think long before you enter, For these corridors amuse not passing travellers. But if you enter, keep your voice to yourself. Nor should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-kulkarni/stranger-think-long-before-you-enter-for-these-corridors-amuse-not/) [G.A. Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-kulkarni/) > [Those beings only are fit for solitude who are like nobody, and are liked by nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/those-beings-only-are-fit-for-solitude-who-are-like-nobody-and-are/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [To seek solitude like a wild animal. That is my only ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/to-seek-solitude-like-a-wild-animal-that-is-my-only-ambition/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“...the Sierra, a region so quiet and pristine that we have the sense of being the first human beings ever to set foot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-fergus/the-sierra-a-region-so-quiet-and-pristine-that-we-have-the-sense-of/) [Jim Fergus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-fergus/) > [When the ground was partially bare of snow, and a few warm days had dried its surface somewhat, it was pleasant to compare the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-the-ground-was-partially-bare-of-snow-and-a-few-warm-days-had/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I could not undertake to form a nucleus of an institution for the development of infant minds, where none already existed. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-could-not-undertake-to-form-a-nucleus-of-an-institution-for-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“A puritan may go to his brown-bread crust with as gross an appetite as ever an alderman to his turtle. Not that food which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-puritan-may-go-to-his-brown-bread-crust-with-as-gross-an-appetite/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The commonest and cheapest sounds, as the barking of a dog, produce the same effect on fresh and healthy ears that the rarest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-commonest-and-cheapest-sounds-as-the-barking-of-a-dog-produce-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I fear that we are such gods or demigods only as fauns and satyrs, the divine allied to beasts, the creatures of appetite, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-fear-that-we-are-such-gods-or-demigods-only-as-fauns-and-satyrs-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Appetite quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [the appetite for thinking must be regulated, as all sensible people know, for it may stifle one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-appetite-for-thinking-must-be-regulated-as-all-sensible-people/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [My curiosity and my appetite for evolving as an actor is one of the main components of me still working today in the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/my-curiosity-and-my-appetite-for-evolving-as-an-actor-is-one-of-the/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [I have a strong appetite and its not for food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-strong-appetite-and-its-not-for-food/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The plain fact is that education is itself a form of propaganda - a deliberate scheme to outfit the pupil, not with the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-plain-fact-is-that-education-is-itself-a-form-of-propaganda-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You should also eat eggs. Not “one egg per week” or some such non-physiologic restriction. Eat what your body tells you to eat, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/you-should-also-eat-eggs-not-one-egg-per-week-or-some-such-non/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) > [If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-your-desires-are-not-great-a-little-will-seem-much-to-you-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [The commonest and cheapest sounds, as the barking of a dog, produce the same effect on fresh and healthy ears that the rarest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-commonest-and-cheapest-sounds-as-the-barking-of-a-dog-produce-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 994 Appetite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have an immense appetite for solitude, like an infant for sleep, and if I don't get enough for this year, I shall cry all the next.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude-like-an-infant-for-sleep-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appetite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude-like-an-infant-for-sleep-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/henry-david-thoreau-20_appetite_i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude_1548574.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/henry-david-thoreau-20_appetite_i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude_1548574.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/henry-david-thoreau-20_appetite_i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude_1548574.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have an immense appetite for solitude, like an infant for sleep, and if I don't get enough for this year…” — Henry David Thoreau", "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": "Henry David Thoreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have an immense appetite for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude-like-an-infant-for-sleep-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-have-an-immense-appetite-for-solitude-like-an-infant-for-sleep-and/#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 } } ] } ```