--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing that's interesting to me is how…" description: "\"One thing that's interesting to me is how we as humans seem to be losing our ability to stand still and be alone with our thoughts. If you want to, you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/neil-gaiman-29_ability_one-thing-that-s-interesting-to-me-is-ho_1585653.jpg" --- # One thing that's interesting to me is how we as humans… ![“One thing that's interesting to me is how we as humans seem to be losing our ability to stand still and be alone with our thoughts. If you want to, you have to arrange it now. You have to go off where there's no WiFi and leave your equipment behind, but still have some sort of GPS tracking to make…” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/neil-gaiman-29_ability_one-thing-that-s-interesting-to-me-is-ho_1585653.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/neil-gaiman-29_ability_one-thing-that-s-interesting-to-me-is-ho_1585653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/neil-gaiman-29_ability_one-thing-that-s-interesting-to-me-is-ho_1585653.jpg) > “One thing that's interesting to me is how we as humans seem to be losing our ability to stand still and be alone with our thoughts. If you want to, you have to arrange it now. You have to go off where there's no WiFi and leave your equipment behind, but still have some sort of GPS tracking to make sure you don't get lost or die.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans lose the ability to be alone with thoughts; need intentional unplugging and safe navigation. **In simple terms:** Seek solitude offline. Key Takeaway Create intentional tech‑free moments. Themes solitude technology mindfulness Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - vacations - remote work - personal retreats Key Concepts digital detox cognitive health Questions to Reflect On - How often can you disconnect? - What safeguards help you feel safe offline? A Different Perspective May be unrealistic for those reliant on connectivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [It Is Time To Take A Stand, Your Thoughts Need To Be Spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no1/it-is-time-to-take-a-stand-your-thoughts-need-to-be-spoken/) No1 > [“Where the mind goes the person follows, so be sure that your thoughts are on what you want rather than what you don’t want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/where-the-mind-goes-the-person-follows-so-be-sure-that-your-thoughts/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Our growing addiction to the Internet is impairing precious human capacities such as memory, concentration, pattern recognition, meaning-making, and intimacy. We are becoming more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/our-growing-addiction-to-the-internet-is-impairing-precious-human/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [“We are losing the ability to understand anything that's even vaguely complex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/we-are-losing-the-ability-to-understand-anything-that-s-even-vaguely/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Losing the ability to talk to each other doesn't just happen overnight. Things like that develop gradually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-norton/losing-the-ability-to-talk-to-each-other-doesn-t-just-happen/) [Judy Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-norton/) > [My fear, is that we are becoming so dependent on technology that if it was all taken away for some reason, some big incident,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-boxleitner/my-fear-is-that-we-are-becoming-so-dependent-on-technology-that-if-it/) [Bruce Boxleitner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-boxleitner/) > [I feel like I'm losing my ability to understand reality; like when someone loses their hearing, they can still speak English, but their speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/i-feel-like-i-m-losing-my-ability-to-understand-reality-like-when/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [Communication is key with a Gemini, once they feel like they're losing the ability to communicate with someone they lose interest as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/communication-is-key-with-a-gemini-once-they-feel-like-they-re-losing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What really scares me is Alzheimer's or premature senility, losing that ability to read and enjoy and to write. And you do it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/what-really-scares-me-is-alzheimer-s-or-premature-senility-losing/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I remember when I was first losing my ability to play my fast licks and my hands were shaking and falling off the guitar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-becker/i-remember-when-i-was-first-losing-my-ability-to-play-my-fast-licks/) [Jason Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-becker/) > [Know that you are locked in my heart and etched in my soul... You are always here with me lulled in my thoughts... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-that-you-are-locked-in-my-heart-and-etched-in-my-soul-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don’t become mesmerized by the pictures that have appeared if they are not what you want. Take responsibility for them, make light of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/don-t-become-mesmerized-by-the-pictures-that-have-appeared-if-they/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“Your thoughts will take you anywhere you want to go, or keep you from getting there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-andrews/your-thoughts-will-take-you-anywhere-you-want-to-go-or-keep-you-from/) Sidney andrews > [“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, for all the walks I want to take, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-still-find-each-day-too-short-for-all-the-thoughts-i-want-to-think/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [We have our own thoughts, and if we want others to know them, we must tell them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-have-our-own-thoughts-and-if-we-want-others-to-know-them-we-must/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One thing that's interesting to me is how we as humans seem to be losing our ability to stand still and be alone with our thoughts. 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