--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because we feel ourselves to be separate…" description: "\"“Because we feel ourselves to be separate from the world in which we live, we have also grown to feel quite alone in this world. Our sense of lonelines..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/joseph-p-kauffman-16033_acceptance_because-we-feel-ourselves-to-be-separate_2305364.jpg" --- # Because we feel ourselves to be separate from the world in… ![“Because we feel ourselves to be separate from the world in which we live, we have also grown to feel quite alone in this world. Our sense of loneliness and isolation not only makes us feel depressed and miserable, but it also causes us to be anxious and afraid of the world and everyone in it…” quote by Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/joseph-p-kauffman-16033_acceptance_because-we-feel-ourselves-to-be-separate_2305364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/joseph-p-kauffman-16033_acceptance_because-we-feel-ourselves-to-be-separate_2305364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/joseph-p-kauffman-16033_acceptance_because-we-feel-ourselves-to-be-separate_2305364.jpg) > ““Because we feel ourselves to be separate from the world in which we live, we have also grown to feel quite alone in this world. Our sense of loneliness and isolation not only makes us feel depressed and miserable, but it also causes us to be anxious and afraid of the world and everyone in it. Because of this inherent fear, we put up all kinds of barriers to protect us from the world—barriers that we have created to keep us safe, but that really end up making us feel more alone, more miserable, and more afraid, as they prevent us from being our natural selves.”” [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perceived separation fuels loneliness, anxiety, and fear, leading to self‑imposed barriers that worsen isolation. **In simple terms:** Feeling separate creates fear and barriers. Key Takeaway Recognize and reconnect. Themes loneliness anxiety self‑isolation psychology Mood reflective empathetic Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - community groups - mindfulness practice - social media detox Key Concepts social connection self‑awareness mental health Questions to Reflect On - What barriers do you maintain? - How can you safely open up? A Different Perspective Barriers can also protect vulnerable individuals from harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Awe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) [Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bliss/) [Brahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brahman/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hinduism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hinduism/) [Holographic-universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holographic-universe/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Isolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isolation/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Loneliness And Isolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness-and-isolation/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nirvana/) [Non-resistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-resistence/) [Nonduality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonduality/) [Oneness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneness/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Self-acceptence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-acceptence/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Third eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-eye/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen/) ## Related quotes > [“It is because we feel that we are separate from nature that we also feel it is okay to manipulate it, pollute it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/it-is-because-we-feel-that-we-are-separate-from-nature-that-we-also/) [Joseph P. 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Westernized Indians don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-never-really-had-any-close-friends-in-india-and-i-felt-a-terrible/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I love to write when I feel like everybody else is asleep and when I feel like the world is kind of empty in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/i-love-to-write-when-i-feel-like-everybody-else-is-asleep-and-when-i/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [I was born on a tiny cot in southwestern Massachusetts during World War II. A sickly child, I turned to photography to overcome my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wegman/i-was-born-on-a-tiny-cot-in-southwestern-massachusetts-during-world/) [William Wegman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wegman/) > [I am interested in the loneliness and isolation that we can feel when we hide feelings we are ashamed of, especially if they concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torill-kove/i-am-interested-in-the-loneliness-and-isolation-that-we-can-feel-when/) Torill Kove > [“The mind working alone produces thought; the heart produces feeling; the tongue makes speech and the hand in isolation makes scribble: all four together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hewitt/the-mind-working-alone-produces-thought-the-heart-produces-feeling/) Geoff Hewitt > [Isolation makes me lonesome, but when I'm lonely in a crowd, I feel desolate and forlorn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/isolation-makes-me-lonesome-but-when-i-m-lonely-in-a-crowd-i-feel/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) > [“Buddhist philosophy points out that the true nature of all forms is essentially formless. 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Kauffman > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“According to Zen Buddhists, all things have their existence in The Void. The Void is that which is no-thing, but contains all things within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/according-to-zen-buddhists-all-things-have-their-existence-in-the/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Buddhist philosophy points out that the true nature of all forms is essentially formless. Forms do not have an existence of their own, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/buddhist-philosophy-points-out-that-the-true-nature-of-all-forms-is/) [Joseph P. 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Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Examples of fractals are everywhere in nature. They can be found in the patterns of trees, branches, and ferns, in which each part appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/examples-of-fractals-are-everywhere-in-nature-they-can-be-found-in/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“You are not limited to this body, to this mind, or to this reality—you are a limitless ocean of Consciousness, imbued with infinite potential.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/you-are-not-limited-to-this-body-to-this-mind-or-to-this-reality-you/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“We are only able to disrespect, mistreat, and harm one another when we forget that the other person is us; when we only see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/we-are-only-able-to-disrespect-mistreat-and-harm-one-another-when-we/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Everything exists as information in a field of infinite possibilities, and it is our Consciousness that renders the information and causes it to appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-exists-as-information-in-a-field-of-infinite-possibilities/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Subject and object are not separate—so-called objective reality is projected by our subjective Consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/subject-and-object-are-not-separate-so-called-objective-reality-is/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Until we heal the root cause of our suffering, and awaken to our true nature, our inherent confusion will continue to manifest itself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/until-we-heal-the-root-cause-of-our-suffering-and-awaken-to-our-true/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“The modern scientist attempts to step outside of himself in order to observe himself, an attempt that is always doomed to failure. You cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/the-modern-scientist-attempts-to-step-outside-of-himself-in-order-to/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“All of Nature follows perfectly geometric laws. The Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Peruvian, Mayan, and Chinese cultures were well aware of this, as Phi—known as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/all-of-nature-follows-perfectly-geometric-laws-the-ancient-egyptian/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“When we perceive the stars, the stars are the object of our perception—they exist within us. When we perceive the ocean, the ocean is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/when-we-perceive-the-stars-the-stars-are-the-object-of-our-perception/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) [Explore all 41 Joseph P. Kauffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. 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