--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a point when I was 15 or 16…" description: "\"There was a point when I was 15 or 16 that I realized that my father wanted me to be a loner. I decided, 'It's okay to be an introvert, but I don't wan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/mark-vonnegut-10170_decided_there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-th_2507084.jpg" --- # There was a point when I was 15 or 16 that I realized that… ![“There was a point when I was 15 or 16 that I realized that my father wanted me to be a loner. I decided, 'It's okay to be an introvert, but I don't want to be a loner. I want a few other people in my life.” quote by Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/mark-vonnegut-10170_decided_there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-th_2507084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/mark-vonnegut-10170_decided_there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-th_2507084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/mark-vonnegut-10170_decided_there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-th_2507084.jpg) > “There was a point when I was 15 or 16 that I realized that my father wanted me to be a loner. I decided, 'It's okay to be an introvert, but I don't want to be a loner. I want a few other people in my life.” [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker distinguishes between being an introvert, which is a personality trait, and being a loner, which implies social isolation, choosing connection over solitude. **In simple terms:** Introverts can still seek close friendships. Key Takeaway Choose meaningful relationships over isolation. Themes introversion social connection self‑acceptance Mood reflective hopeful Type personal advice When to use this quote - school years - family discussions - friendship building - personal growth Key Concepts personality social dynamics identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How do you define a healthy social circle? - What boundaries protect your introversion while fostering connections? A Different Perspective Balancing alone time with social needs can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Introvert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introvert/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loner/) [Loner Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loner-decided-1120097/) [Loner Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loner-want-1120095/) [Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay/) [Okay Introvert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay-introvert-1120096/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Loner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-loner-1120098/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Loner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-loner-1120099/) ## Related quotes > [“The Internet Is Like Alcohol in Some Sense. It accentuates.What You Would Do Any Way. If You Want To Be Loner, You Can Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-internet-is-like-alcohol-in-some-sense-it-accentuates-what-you-2/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The Internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates what you would do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-internet-is-like-alcohol-in-some-sense-it-accentuates-what-you/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [“I don't want you to think I don't love my extended family. I do. I just don't want to be around them. Some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-don-t-want-you-to-think-i-don-t-love-my-extended-family-i-do-i-just/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I was a bit of a loner as a teenager. I never went to a single social event, because they terrified me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-was-a-bit-of-a-loner-as-a-teenager-i-never-went-to-a-single-social/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [“If he’s survived as a loner all this time, maybe he’s seen Jason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/if-he-s-survived-as-a-loner-all-this-time-maybe-he-s-seen-jason/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Surfing is real private. It's a solo, loner sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/surfing-is-real-private-it-s-a-solo-loner-sport/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Reading requires a loner's temperament, a high tolerance for silence, and an unhealthy preference for the company of people who are imaginary or dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-samuels/reading-requires-a-loner-s-temperament-a-high-tolerance-for-silence/) [David Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-samuels/) > [It's the journey of self, I guess. You start with this kind of loner, outside guy, which a lot of people can relate to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/it-s-the-journey-of-self-i-guess-you-start-with-this-kind-of-loner/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [Know what a loner is? He's a born cripple. He's a cripple because the only person he can live with is himself. It's his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/know-what-a-loner-is-he-s-a-born-cripple-he-s-a-cripple-because-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I felt no need for rebellion. I was a real loner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-felt-no-need-for-rebellion-i-was-a-real-loner/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [If I am being alone does not mean I am a loner rather I am healing me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhi-saini/if-i-am-being-alone-does-not-mean-i-am-a-loner-rather-i-am-healing-me/) [Nidhi Saini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhi-saini/) > [From the time I was a little kid, I was always shy. Performing was when I was outgoing. So I guess I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/from-the-time-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-always-shy-performing-was-when/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-accepted-the-face-that-as-much-as-i-want-to-lead-others-and-love-to/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Don't let 'being single' make you feel like a loner. Its better to be alone. Relationships arent cures for loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-being-single-make-you-feel-like-a-loner-its-better-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mark Vonnegut > [Most adults have forgotten what they had to do to survive childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/most-adults-have-forgotten-what-they-had-to-do-to-survive-childhood/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [I didn't like the '60s because it was too important what people who had nothing to do with the war thought about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/i-didn-t-like-the-60s-because-it-was-too-important-what-people-who/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“He couldn't help thinking that all that money we were spending blowing up things and killing people so far away, making people the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/he-couldn-t-help-thinking-that-all-that-money-we-were-spending/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“Beyond a certain point, gathering further evidence of the hurtfulness and shortcomings of one’s family, employer, et cetera is like eating the same poisonous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/beyond-a-certain-point-gathering-further-evidence-of-the-hurtfulness/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“I often took him as one of God's little jokes on me. When I was in desperate trouble, what saved me from a fate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/i-often-took-him-as-one-of-god-s-little-jokes-on-me-when-i-was-in/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [I take care of military families. Their sacrifices are very real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/i-take-care-of-military-families-their-sacrifices-are-very-real/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [Colds, ulcers, flu, and cancer are things we get. Schizophrenia is something we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/colds-ulcers-flu-and-cancer-are-things-we-get-schizophrenia-is/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“If nothing I say sparks any thoughts or identification, it’s possible you’re taking too much medication. If it’s the greatest talk you’ve ever heard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/if-nothing-i-say-sparks-any-thoughts-or-identification-it-s-possible/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [Having their feelings make sense is how people get their kicks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/having-their-feelings-make-sense-is-how-people-get-their-kicks/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [With mental illness the trick is to not take your feelings so seriously; you’re zooming in and zooming away from things that go from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/with-mental-illness-the-trick-is-to-not-take-your-feelings-so/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [Knowing that you're crazy doesn't make the crazy things stop happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/knowing-that-you-re-crazy-doesn-t-make-the-crazy-things-stop-happening/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“I don’t think the people today who start hearing voices, stop eating and sleeping, and run amuck are likely to get good treatment. Having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/i-don-t-think-the-people-today-who-start-hearing-voices-stop-eating/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“At the end of his life, which had included financial ruin in the Great Depression, his wife's barbiturate addiction and death by overdose, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/at-the-end-of-his-life-which-had-included-financial-ruin-in-the-great/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“My parents were told by the principal of West Barnstable Elementary School and my teacher that I was a bright boy whose spelling was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/my-parents-were-told-by-the-principal-of-west-barnstable-elementary/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“If you want to pick out the people who go crazy from time to time in my family, find the ones in the photos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/if-you-want-to-pick-out-the-people-who-go-crazy-from-time-to-time-in/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) [Explore all 67 Mark Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) ## More Decided quotes > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. That's also why I decided against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-only-thing-i-try-to-watch-carefully-is-that-i-never-lose-the-love/) [Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [One day I decided I would like to put a record into my system. So I picked up a record that was lying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/one-day-i-decided-i-would-like-to-put-a-record-into-my-system-so-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [I just decided to take some time off. I've been modeling since '93, '92, and that's a pretty long time. I'm a single mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/i-just-decided-to-take-some-time-off-i-ve-been-modeling-since-93-92/) [Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/) > [When I became 21, I decided that nobody learned anything about politics after the age of 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/when-i-became-21-i-decided-that-nobody-learned-anything-about/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Before I started doing the film and when I found out I was going to be doing it, I just decided to pump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parminder-nagra/before-i-started-doing-the-film-and-when-i-found-out-i-was-going-to/) [Parminder Nagra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parminder-nagra/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [At age 28, I had no retail experience, no consumer marketing experience and no real Internet experience. But I decided I wanted to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/at-age-28-i-had-no-retail-experience-no-consumer-marketing-experience/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) [Browse all 3,155 Decided quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was a point when I was 15 or 16 that I realized that my father wanted me to be a loner. I decided, 'It's okay to be an introvert, but I don't want to be a loner. I want a few other people in my life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Vonnegut" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-that-i-realized-that-my-father/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decided" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-that-i-realized-that-my-father/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/mark-vonnegut-10170_decided_there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-th_2507084.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/mark-vonnegut-10170_decided_there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-th_2507084.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/mark-vonnegut-10170_decided_there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-th_2507084.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was a point when I was 15 or 16 that I realized that my father wanted me to be a loner. I decided…” — Mark Vonnegut", "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": "Mark Vonnegut", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There was a point when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-that-i-realized-that-my-father/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/there-was-a-point-when-i-was-15-or-16-that-i-realized-that-my-father/#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 } } ] } ```