--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was by myself for a pretty long time. I…" description: "\"“I was by myself for a pretty long time. I needed to do that. I think everyone that I know has wanted to do that or needed to do that at some point. I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/justin-vernon-4380_bon-iver_i-was-by-myself-for-a-pretty-long-time-i_1840393.jpg" --- # I was by myself for a pretty long time. I needed to do… ![“I was by myself for a pretty long time. I needed to do that. I think everyone that I know has wanted to do that or needed to do that at some point. I think when you spend enough time when it’s quiet around you and you don’t open your mouth for three or four days, there’s parts of your brain that…” quote by Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/justin-vernon-4380_bon-iver_i-was-by-myself-for-a-pretty-long-time-i_1840393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/justin-vernon-4380_bon-iver_i-was-by-myself-for-a-pretty-long-time-i_1840393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/justin-vernon-4380_bon-iver_i-was-by-myself-for-a-pretty-long-time-i_1840393.jpg) > ““I was by myself for a pretty long time. I needed to do that. I think everyone that I know has wanted to do that or needed to do that at some point. I think when you spend enough time when it’s quiet around you and you don’t open your mouth for three or four days, there’s parts of your brain that can kind of rest. I think when we’re out in the world and we have to talk to people, we edit ourselves. You know, we have to like, act a little bit. As honest as we may be as humans, when we’re out here, we’re all kind of wearing mirrors on our faces. You know, constantly reacting to how to react to the people around you. And I think when you’re alone for a long enough time, you can feel a lot more peace.”” [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Solitude allows mental rest and self‑reflection, revealing inner peace absent in constant social interaction. **In simple terms:** Being alone restores the mind. Key Takeaway Schedule regular quiet time for mental reset. Themes solitude mindfulness peace Mood contemplative calm Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - writing - solo travel - creative work Key Concepts psychology self‑care Questions to Reflect On - How often do you seek solitude? - What practices help you recharge alone? A Different Perspective Too much isolation can lead to loneliness; balance is key. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bon-iver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bon-iver-22305/) [Enough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Needed Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-think-2179050/) [Open mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mouth/) [Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest/) [Rest Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-think-576049/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-needed-899782/) ## Related quotes > [“Towers’ is the name of the dormitory that I lived in in college; it’s made up of these two towers – North and South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/towers-is-the-name-of-the-dormitory-that-i-lived-in-in-college-it-s/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [“I've Met: - Fathers who feel like they have enough time to get back in their kids' lives. - Daughters who feel they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/i-ve-met-fathers-who-feel-like-they-have-enough-time-to-get-back-in/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) > [For a thing to remain undone nothing more is needed than to think of it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/for-a-thing-to-remain-undone-nothing-more-is-needed-than-to-think-of/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Is there a reason there's not a tampon dispenser in the West Wing basement?" And it was like, "No." Nobody had really just ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-mastromonaco/is-there-a-reason-there-s-not-a-tampon-dispenser-in-the-west-wing/) [Alyssa Mastromonaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-mastromonaco/) > [We assured Phelan that we were more than happy to let him have you and your menagerie,” Leo retorted. “After that, he said he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/we-assured-phelan-that-we-were-more-than-happy-to-let-him-have-you/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Collected my belongings and I left the jail. Well thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell. I had to think awhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/modest-mouse/collected-my-belongings-and-i-left-the-jail-well-thanks-for-the-time/) [Modest Mouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/modest-mouse/) > [I knew that I had it tough compared to children around me. But I felt like I needed it. I think I had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/i-knew-that-i-had-it-tough-compared-to-children-around-me-but-i-felt/) [Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/) > [When I needed to think or was really upset, generally I climbed a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/when-i-needed-to-think-or-was-really-upset-generally-i-climbed-a-tree/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [This was all he wanted now. Some signs that the immense world would accept him and give him the long time he needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/this-was-all-he-wanted-now-some-signs-that-the-immense-world-would/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“I realized I needed to think about how to leave priesthood—if it was even possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/i-realized-i-needed-to-think-about-how-to-leave-priesthood-if-it-was/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [I needed to think about last night. So I galloped into a wooded glen, and after punch-dancing out my rage and suffering an extremely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-samberg/i-needed-to-think-about-last-night-so-i-galloped-into-a-wooded-glen/) [Andy Samberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-samberg/) > [“Friends will hand over anything that is needed and think nothing of it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/friends-will-hand-over-anything-that-is-needed-and-think-nothing-of-it/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [It's never come easy for me. I don't think my mind allows me to rest ever. I have, I think, a chip on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/it-s-never-come-easy-for-me-i-don-t-think-my-mind-allows-me-to-rest/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [Novelists in particular love to rhapsodize about the glory of the solitary mind; this is natural, because their job requires them to sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/novelists-in-particular-love-to-rhapsodize-about-the-glory-of-the/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [If I rest, if I think inward, I go mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/if-i-rest-if-i-think-inward-i-go-mad/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## More by Justin Vernon > [I don't really write songs anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-don-t-really-write-songs-anymore/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [The songs started as a soundscapes, and then came the words and music; each song took at least a year to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/the-songs-started-as-a-soundscapes-and-then-came-the-words-and-music/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [Irony is based on insecurity; people like to not like things because they don't understand them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/irony-is-based-on-insecurity-people-like-to-not-like-things-because/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I'm barely at home enough to enjoy the simple lifestyle that I want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-m-barely-at-home-enough-to-enjoy-the-simple-lifestyle-that-i-want/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [“Someday my pain will mark you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/someday-my-pain-will-mark-you/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [It's dangerous when music gets cornered by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/it-s-dangerous-when-music-gets-cornered-by-anything/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I told myself I never wanted to rent again. Even though it's a battle, I'm lucky cause I'm living in a cheaper part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-told-myself-i-never-wanted-to-rent-again-even-though-it-s-a-battle/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [ I feel like this thing \[that\] we're rocking back and forth like we're stuck in a snow bank and we all sort of know… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-feel-like-this-thing-that-we-re-rocking-back-and-forth-like-we-re/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I am generalizing, of course, but in hip-hop, it's like you get this shine for using the word "pussy" a billion times, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-am-generalizing-of-course-but-in-hip-hop-it-s-like-you-get-this/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I'm really honored that Bon Iver gives me a platform to do whatever I want, but there's only so much time you can spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-m-really-honored-that-bon-iver-gives-me-a-platform-to-do-whatever-i/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [Apple is not thinking different anymore, they are getting worse by the day. They've become bottom-dollar and you can see that transition easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/apple-is-not-thinking-different-anymore-they-are-getting-worse-by-the/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [Licensing is how indie rock people make a living these days, so whatever about that. But I want good films and good placement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/licensing-is-how-indie-rock-people-make-a-living-these-days-so/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [The whole point of being happy is not feeling like you have a job. I'm sure there are days where you're at your job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/the-whole-point-of-being-happy-is-not-feeling-like-you-have-a-job-i-m/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I began realizing that it wasn't important for me to concern myself with the perception of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-began-realizing-that-it-wasn-t-important-for-me-to-concern-myself/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [The amount of people that I feel like... I'm not being self-demeaning, but I actually feel like I'm not as cool as them, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/the-amount-of-people-that-i-feel-like-i-m-not-being-self-demeaning/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) [Explore all 112 Justin Vernon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) ## More Bon-iver quotes > [“Towers’ is the name of the dormitory that I lived in in college; it’s made up of these two towers – North and South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/towers-is-the-name-of-the-dormitory-that-i-lived-in-in-college-it-s/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) [Browse all 2 Bon-iver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bon-iver-22305/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was by myself for a pretty long time. I needed to do that. 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