---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There have always been hermits: people…"
description: "\"There have always been hermits: people who want to get away from other humans. Literally, some of the first extant books and poems found in Mesopotamia..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/744/michael-finkel-7714_alone_there-have-always-been-hermits-people-wh_276781.jpg"
---

#  There have always been hermits: people who want to get…

![“There have always been hermits: people who want to get away from other humans. Literally, some of the first extant books and poems found in Mesopotamia and China mention people living alone in the woods. It's this primal fascination that exists across all cultures and all times.” quote by Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/744/michael-finkel-7714_alone_there-have-always-been-hermits-people-wh_276781.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/744/michael-finkel-7714_alone_there-have-always-been-hermits-people-wh_276781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/744/michael-finkel-7714_alone_there-have-always-been-hermits-people-wh_276781.jpg)

> “There have always been hermits: people who want to get away from other humans. Literally, some of the first extant books and poems found in Mesopotamia and China mention people living alone in the woods. It's this primal fascination that exists across all cultures and all times.”

[Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humans have long been drawn to solitude, as seen in ancient texts describing hermits living apart from society.

**In simple terms:** People have always been fascinated by living alone.

Key Takeaway

Consider the value of occasional solitude.

Themes

solitude culture history psychology

Mood

reflective nostalgic

Type

observational historical

When to use this quote

- personal retreat
- creative work
- spiritual practice
- mental health
- research studies

Key Concepts

anthropology existentialism social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do people seek solitude?
- How does solitude affect creativity?

A Different Perspective

Solitude can lead to isolation and mental health challenges.

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[Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Hermits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hermits/) [Living alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-alone/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/)

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