--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The journey simultaneously holds the…" description: "\"“The journey simultaneously holds the contraries of solitary longing and relatedness to community, as Shaw tells us: “It’s an extraordinary, indigenous..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/martin-shaw-24629_journey_the-journey-simultaneously-holds-the-con_1382288.jpg" --- # The journey simultaneously holds the contraries of… ![“The journey simultaneously holds the contraries of solitary longing and relatedness to community, as Shaw tells us: “It’s an extraordinary, indigenous idea that to find an authentic center we have to wander lonely beaches and sleep under hedges, longing for something we know is lost. To make a…” quote by Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/martin-shaw-24629_journey_the-journey-simultaneously-holds-the-con_1382288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/martin-shaw-24629_journey_the-journey-simultaneously-holds-the-con_1382288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/martin-shaw-24629_journey_the-journey-simultaneously-holds-the-con_1382288.jpg) > ““The journey simultaneously holds the contraries of solitary longing and relatedness to community, as Shaw tells us: “It’s an extraordinary, indigenous idea that to find an authentic center we have to wander lonely beaches and sleep under hedges, longing for something we know is lost. To make a place in us for a small, cultivated altar to the bird that flew away.” And, “This intensely mysterious experience is solitary in nature—a conscious break from society—but requires the warmth and subtlety of a return to community to help grow the seeds that can flower from such an experience.”” [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing personal longing with community connection fuels authentic growth. **In simple terms:** Loneliness and community together create authenticity. Key Takeaway Embrace solitude, then share insights with others. Themes self‑discovery community authenticity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative retreats - solo travel - team building - counseling - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychology existentialism social integration Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate solitary insights into community life? - What rituals help you transition from solitude to belonging? A Different Perspective Alone time may lead to isolation if not balanced with social engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) ## Related quotes > [Creativity is a space for solitary longing, the desire to be elsewhere in space and time, to be in a new ideal world where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chenjerai-hove/creativity-is-a-space-for-solitary-longing-the-desire-to-be-elsewhere/) Chenjerai Hove > [“Jim had spent most of his life alone. The solitary nature of his disability and the constant moving had made it difficult for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/jim-had-spent-most-of-his-life-alone-the-solitary-nature-of-his/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“We’re solitary by nature. Aren’t we? Even families … Fundamentally, I mean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hilary/we-re-solitary-by-nature-aren-t-we-even-families-fundamentally-i-mean/) [Sarah Hilary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hilary/) > [“Her solitary nature means she needs a family to keep her from loneliness my gregarious nature means I will never have to worry about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/her-solitary-nature-means-she-needs-a-family-to-keep-her-from/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The solitary side of our nature demands leisure for reflection upon subjects on which the dash and whirl of daily business, so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/the-solitary-side-of-our-nature-demands-leisure-for-reflection-upon/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [I finally figured out that I’m solitary by nature, but at the same time I know so many people; so many people think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/i-finally-figured-out-that-i-m-solitary-by-nature-but-at-the-same/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [There are no small number of people in this world who, solitary by nature, always try to go back into their shell like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-no-small-number-of-people-in-this-world-who-solitary-by/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Collaboration is a nice change of pace from the often solitary nature of the writer's craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/collaboration-is-a-nice-change-of-pace-from-the-often-solitary-nature/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [“She knows how things fit together and move, but so few people understand her. She’s the most solitary person I’ve ever known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-knows-how-things-fit-together-and-move-but-so-few-people/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [When I'm away from basketball, I'm the biggest kid. I do a good job of keeping myself sane. But on the other hand, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/when-i-m-away-from-basketball-i-m-the-biggest-kid-i-do-a-good-job-of/) [Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/) > [Photography is solitary and there are lags between seeing with your eyes and seeing through the lens, and then seeing the image on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-marclay/photography-is-solitary-and-there-are-lags-between-seeing-with-your/) [Christian Marclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-marclay/) > [Something in our nature cries out to be loved by another. Isolation is devastating to the human psyche. That is why solitary confinement is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/something-in-our-nature-cries-out-to-be-loved-by-another-isolation-is/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [I saw above a sea of hills A solitary planet shine, And there was no one, near or far, to keep the world from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/i-saw-above-a-sea-of-hills-a-solitary-planet-shine-and-there-was-no/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## More by Martin Shaw > [“To be in touch with wilderness is to have stepped past the proud cattle of the field and wandered far from the twinkles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/to-be-in-touch-with-wilderness-is-to-have-stepped-past-the-proud/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I can be very stubborn. I'm very opinionated and if people cross me at work - if people who don't know about the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/i-can-be-very-stubborn-i-m-very-opinionated-and-if-people-cross-me-at/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I hate the standard of stupid and selfish driving we have in this country. We are the worst I've come across.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/i-hate-the-standard-of-stupid-and-selfish-driving-we-have-in-this/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [Be a vegetarian. That was the best advice I ever took. It means I'm not involved in killing, that's the main thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/be-a-vegetarian-that-was-the-best-advice-i-ever-took-it-means-i-m-not/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I think to be a rich and successful person in Roman society would be pretty fabulous. They had all of the comforts we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/i-think-to-be-a-rich-and-successful-person-in-roman-society-would-be/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [“It is your task to walk back from the woods with an animal, not a pelt, not a corpse, but something alive. Curate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/it-is-your-task-to-walk-back-from-the-woods-with-an-animal-not-a-pelt/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I tend to get starstruck with sports people. I was on a chat show with retired Scottish footballer Denis Law and I just lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/i-tend-to-get-starstruck-with-sports-people-i-was-on-a-chat-show-with/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I worked with Judi Dench in Cranford. She's not at all starry, she's very easy and funny to be around, but I had such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/i-worked-with-judi-dench-in-cranford-she-s-not-at-all-starry-she-s/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I don't live in London - I'm based in Norfolk and have a place in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/i-don-t-live-in-london-i-m-based-in-norfolk-and-have-a-place-in/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [If someone opens a glorious Scotch or a bottle of wine, it's no more than a whimsy, but after nearly 40 years I'm used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/if-someone-opens-a-glorious-scotch-or-a-bottle-of-wine-it-s-no-more/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [“Holy isn’t always a church or open meadow. It can be a zone of profound change, where sexuality, the mythic realms, dreams, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/holy-isn-t-always-a-church-or-open-meadow-it-can-be-a-zone-of/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [My very first professional job was with a theatre company in 1965 and the first job they gave me was literally shovelling sh\*t. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/my-very-first-professional-job-was-with-a-theatre-company-in-1965-and/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I like watching DVDs, flying my plane, walking and going to my place in Scotland. I like yoga. It takes me a while to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/i-like-watching-dvds-flying-my-plane-walking-and-going-to-my-place-in/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [Are there any celebs I'd like to meet? I'd love to meet the Dalai Lama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/are-there-any-celebs-i-d-like-to-meet-i-d-love-to-meet-the-dalai-lama/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [ There have been two \[career highlights\]. Waking up in New York to hear I'd been nominated for Best Actor for a Tony Award on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/there-have-been-two-career-highlights-waking-up-in-new-york-to-hear-i/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) [Explore all 24 Martin Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) ## More Journey quotes > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Cocoon's cry to first fly, Travels thousands of miles— So much in so little life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-negi/cocoon-s-cry-to-first-fly-travels-thousands-of-miles-so-much-in-so/) [Ritu Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-negi/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Loving yourself is a journey, not a destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/loving-yourself-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [“Everywhere is home, let is go home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzuco-hu-nh/everywhere-is-home-let-is-go-home/) Dzuco Huỳnh > [Life is a journey, not a destination. Fall into the deep - rise to new heights. .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-basumatary/life-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-fall-into-the-deep-rise-to-new/) [Ashish Basumatary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-basumatary/) > [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“May the seas bend to your journey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoraida-c-rdova/may-the-seas-bend-to-your-journey/) [Zoraida Córdova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoraida-c-rdova/) [Browse all 11,861 Journey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The journey simultaneously holds the contraries of solitary longing and relatedness to community, as Shaw tells us: “It’s an extraordinary, indigenous idea that to find an authentic center we have to wander lonely beaches and sleep under hedges, longing for something we know is lost. 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