Electric light Quote by Paul Theroux
““And yet on that bench at Jacobacci, I was glad I had left everyone else behind. Although this was a town with a main street and a railway station, and people with dogs and electric lights it was near enough to the end of the earth to give me the impression that I was a solitary explorer in a strange land. That illusion (which was an illusion in the South Pole and at the headwaters of the Nile) was enough of a satisfaction to me to make me want to go forward.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux, 1975
The narrator feels a satisfying solitude while traveling in remote places, imagining himself as an explorer despite familiar surroundings.
In simple terms: Travel brings a feeling of solitary adventure.
Key Takeaway
Embrace solitude to deepen travel experience.
Themes
solitude
travel
exploration
selfdiscovery
illusion
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
adventurous
Type
literary
travelogue
personal
When to use this quote
- remote towns
- long journeys
- personal reflection
- seeking meaning
- cultural observation
Key Concepts
wanderlust
psychology
identity
place
perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does imagined solitude affect your real travel choices?
- What does “solitary explorer” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
The sense of isolation may be romanticized, overlooking practical challenges of travel.
![“[On writing more Sherlock Holmes stories.] ‘I don’t care whether you do or not,’ said Bram. ‘But you will, eventually. He’s yours, till death do you part. Did you really think he was dead and gone when you wrote “The Final Problem”? I don’t think you did. I think you always knew he’d be back. But…” quote by Graham Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad6/graham-moore-18909_dead-and-gone_on-writing-more-sherlock-holmes-stories_158928.jpg)
