--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A hermit who has been shut up in his cell…" description: "\"A hermit who has been shut up in his cell in a college has contracted a sort of mould and rust upon his soul.\" — Isaac Watts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/isaac-watts-3445_cells_a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cel_2638754.png" --- # A hermit who has been shut up in his cell in a college has… ![“A hermit who has been shut up in his cell in a college has contracted a sort of mould and rust upon his soul.” quote by Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/isaac-watts-3445_cells_a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cel_2638754.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/isaac-watts-3445_cells_a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cel_2638754.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/isaac-watts-3445_cells_a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cel_2638754.png) > “A hermit who has been shut up in his cell in a college has contracted a sort of mould and rust upon his soul.” [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Isolation can decay the spirit, leading to stagnation and loss of purpose. **In simple terms:** Isolation harms the soul. Key Takeaway Seek community, stay engaged. Themes isolation spiritual decay growth Mood somber reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - college dorm life - remote work - personal crisis Key Concepts existentialism mental health Questions to Reflect On - When does solitude become detrimental? - How can one nurture the soul in confinement? A Different Perspective Not all solitude is harmful; some fosters reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Hermit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hermit/) [Hermits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hermits/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“Man was born for society. However little He may be attached to the World, He never can wholly forget it, or bear to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gregory-lewis/man-was-born-for-society-however-little-he-may-be-attached-to-the/) [Matthew Gregory Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gregory-lewis/) > [I'm kind of a hermit. it's almost easier for me to write about connection than to actually connect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-m-kind-of-a-hermit-it-s-almost-easier-for-me-to-write-about/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [In an odd sort of way, the computer and the Internet is the hermit's ideal form of communication. You don't have to see anyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/in-an-odd-sort-of-way-the-computer-and-the-internet-is-the-hermit-s/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [I'm kind of a hermit. Left to my own devices, I won't submerge myself in anything further afield than the driveway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-m-kind-of-a-hermit-left-to-my-own-devices-i-won-t-submerge-myself/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [When the devil grows old he turns hermit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-ariosto/when-the-devil-grows-old-he-turns-hermit/) [Ludovico Ariosto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-ariosto/) > [A hermit is one who renounces the world of fragments that he may enjoy the world wholly and without interruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/a-hermit-is-one-who-renounces-the-world-of-fragments-that-he-may/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Good is no hermit. It has ever neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/good-is-no-hermit-it-has-ever-neighbors/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To succeed as a lawyer, a man must work like a horse and live like a hermit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scott-1st-earl-of-eldon/to-succeed-as-a-lawyer-a-man-must-work-like-a-horse-and-live-like-a/) John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon > [I don't know what impression you might have of the way I live. I live in a quiet place. I do not live as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-don-t-know-what-impression-you-might-have-of-the-way-i-live-i-live/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [This world is so full of hypocrisy, the only way you can be honest is to be a hermit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/this-world-is-so-full-of-hypocrisy-the-only-way-you-can-be-honest-is/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [You cannot succeed by yourself. It's hard to find a rich hermit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/you-cannot-succeed-by-yourself-it-s-hard-to-find-a-rich-hermit/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“The hermit, without access to the news of the day, owes it to himself to be up to date on the doings of ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-tesson/the-hermit-without-access-to-the-news-of-the-day-owes-it-to-himself/) [Sylvain Tesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-tesson/) > [I, who so love a hermit life for a good part of the day, find myself living in public, and almost losing my identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-blackwell/i-who-so-love-a-hermit-life-for-a-good-part-of-the-day-find-myself/) [Elizabeth Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-blackwell/) > [“The thoughtful man becomes a hermit in the thoroughfares of the marketplace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-thoughtful-man-becomes-a-hermit-in-the-thoroughfares-of-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Isaac Watts > [“Lord, we confess our numerous faults, How great our guilt has been! Foolish and vain were all our thoughts, And all our lives were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/lord-we-confess-our-numerous-faults-how-great-our-guilt-has-been/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [“When the Eternal bows the skies To visit earthly things, With scorn divine he turns his eyes From towers of haughty kings. He bids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/when-the-eternal-bows-the-skies-to-visit-earthly-things-with-scorn/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Whatever brawls disturb the street, There should be peace at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/whatever-brawls-disturb-the-street-there-should-be-peace-at-home/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [The Fondness we have for Self, and the Relation which other Persons and Things have to ourselves, furnish us with another long Rank of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/the-fondness-we-have-for-self-and-the-relation-which-other-persons/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Salvation, O the joyful sound! 'Tis pleasure to our ears; A sov'reign balm for ev'ry wound, A cordial for our fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/salvation-o-the-joyful-sound-tis-pleasure-to-our-ears-a-sov-reign/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [For one drop calls another down, till we are drowned in seas of grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/for-one-drop-calls-another-down-till-we-are-drowned-in-seas-of-grief/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [What bliss will fill the ransomed souls, when they in glory dwell, to see the sinner as he rolls, in quenchless flames of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/what-bliss-will-fill-the-ransomed-souls-when-they-in-glory-dwell-to/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [What's amiss I'll strive to mend,And endure what can't be mended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/what-s-amiss-i-ll-strive-to-mend-and-endure-what-can-t-be-mended/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God hath made them so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/let-dogs-delight-to-bark-and-bite-for-god-hath-made-them-so/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [“The Spirit is sent down to breathe On such dry bones as we. 6 Rais'd from the dead we live anew; And justify'd by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/the-spirit-is-sent-down-to-breathe-on-such-dry-bones-as-we-6-rais-d/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Vice and virtue chiefly imply the relation of our actions to men in this world; sin and holiness rather imply their relation to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/vice-and-virtue-chiefly-imply-the-relation-of-our-actions-to-men-in/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Ten thousand things there are which we believe merely upon the authority or credit of those who have spoken or written them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/ten-thousand-things-there-are-which-we-believe-merely-upon-the/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Do not spend the day in gathering flowers by the way side, lest night come upon you before you arrive at your journey's end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/do-not-spend-the-day-in-gathering-flowers-by-the-way-side-lest-night/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Once a day, especially in the early years of life and study, call yourselves to an account what new ideas, what new proposition or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/once-a-day-especially-in-the-early-years-of-life-and-study-call/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Instructors should not only be skilful in those sciences which they teach, but have skill in the method of teaching, and patience in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/instructors-should-not-only-be-skilful-in-those-sciences-which-they/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) [Explore all 130 Isaac Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) ## More Cells quotes > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [All of your brain cells rotting from weed, feeling like if you ain’t got it life’s not as complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hopsin/all-of-your-brain-cells-rotting-from-weed-feeling-like-if-you-ain-t/) [Hopsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hopsin/) > [I've been thinking about the record since I reached the fifty plateau. But you think about it and then you let it go because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-ve-been-thinking-about-the-record-since-i-reached-the-fifty-plateau/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [To all conservative women out there: If you are so sure the embryo needed for stem cell research are precious human life that can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/to-all-conservative-women-out-there-if-you-are-so-sure-the-embryo/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I like everything with a heaping dose of feminitity, including my cell phone. I created this phone for the classic woman, who like me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/i-like-everything-with-a-heaping-dose-of-feminitity-including-my-cell/) [Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Well, you know, they use those words so that they can scare people "terror" and "cell."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/well-you-know-they-use-those-words-so-that-they-can-scare-people/) [Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/) > [Only cells that had been transformed by a virus or a genetic mutation had the potential to become immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-skloot/only-cells-that-had-been-transformed-by-a-virus-or-a-genetic-mutation/) [Rebecca Skloot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-skloot/) > [We know life is futile. A man who considers that his life is of very wonderful importance is awfully close to a padded cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/we-know-life-is-futile-a-man-who-considers-that-his-life-is-of-very/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [To defy heredity is to defy billions of years, to defy the first cell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/to-defy-heredity-is-to-defy-billions-of-years-to-defy-the-first-cell/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [It required unusual inquisitiveness to pursue the development of scientific curiosities such as charged pith balls, the voltaic cell, and the electrostatic machine. 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So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/) [John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/) Browse all 1,510 Cells quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A hermit who has been shut up in his cell in a college has contracted a sort of mould and rust upon his soul.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isaac Watts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cell-in-a-college-has-contracted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cells" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cell-in-a-college-has-contracted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/isaac-watts-3445_cells_a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cel_2638754.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/isaac-watts-3445_cells_a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cel_2638754.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/isaac-watts-3445_cells_a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cel_2638754.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A hermit who has been shut up in his cell in a college has contracted a sort of mould and rust upon his soul.” — Isaac Watts", "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": "Isaac Watts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A hermit who has been shut...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cell-in-a-college-has-contracted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/a-hermit-who-has-been-shut-up-in-his-cell-in-a-college-has-contracted/#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 } } ] } ```