--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Solitude is not measured by the miles of…" description: "\"Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows. The really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/henry-david-thoreau-20_cambridge_solitude-is-not-measured-by-the-miles-of_938282.jpg" --- # Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that… ![“Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows. The really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge college is as solitary as a dervis in the desert.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/henry-david-thoreau-20_cambridge_solitude-is-not-measured-by-the-miles-of_938282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/henry-david-thoreau-20_cambridge_solitude-is-not-measured-by-the-miles-of_938282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/henry-david-thoreau-20_cambridge_solitude-is-not-measured-by-the-miles-of_938282.jpg) > “Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows. The really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge college is as solitary as a dervis in the desert.” [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. True solitude is a mental state, not physical distance; even in crowds one can feel isolated. **In simple terms:** Solitude is about inner feeling, not location. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner peace regardless of surroundings. Themes solitude inner life mindfulness community Mood contemplative philosophical Type reflection inspirational When to use this quote - college life - remote work - urban living - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you find solitude in crowds? - What practices foster inner connection? A Different Perspective Physical proximity does not guarantee connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cambridge/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/solitude-is-not-measured-by-the-miles-of-space-that-intervene-between/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Some kind of solitude is measured out in you; You think you know me but you haven't got a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-kind-of-solitude-is-measured-out-in-you-you-think-you-know-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mere idea of asking a family member if they intentionally stopped sending me an annual bonus makes me feel like breaking out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/the-mere-idea-of-asking-a-family-member-if-they-intentionally-stopped/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Most people don't have any idea about all the complicated life going on inside a hive. 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You can't untie a boat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osip-mandelstam/take-from-my-palms-to-soothe-your-heart-a-little-honey-a-little-sun/) [Osip Mandelstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osip-mandelstam/) > [“I can’t wrangle bees. I’m terrified of stinging insects. Literally. I break out in hives.” “Hives! That’s adorbs, right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/i-can-t-wrangle-bees-i-m-terrified-of-stinging-insects-literally-i/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [The little bee returns with evening's gloom, To join her comrades in the braided hive, Where, housed beside their might honey-comb, They dream their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tennyson-turner/the-little-bee-returns-with-evening-s-gloom-to-join-her-comrades-in/) [Charles Tennyson Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tennyson-turner/) ## 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. 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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. 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