--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a child, I thought, Casually…" description: "\"“When I was a child, I thought, Casually, that solitude Never needed to be sought. Something everybody had, Like nakedness, it lay at hand, Not special..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/philip-larkin-1822_children_when-i-was-a-child-i-thought-casually-th_1970459.jpg" --- # When I was a child, I thought, Casually, that solitude… ![“When I was a child, I thought, Casually, that solitude Never needed to be sought. Something everybody had, Like nakedness, it lay at hand, Not specially right or specially wrong, A plentiful and obvious thing Not at all hard to understand. Then, after twenty, it became At once more difficult to…” quote by Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/philip-larkin-1822_children_when-i-was-a-child-i-thought-casually-th_1970459.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/philip-larkin-1822_children_when-i-was-a-child-i-thought-casually-th_1970459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/philip-larkin-1822_children_when-i-was-a-child-i-thought-casually-th_1970459.jpg) > ““When I was a child, I thought, Casually, that solitude Never needed to be sought. Something everybody had, Like nakedness, it lay at hand, Not specially right or specially wrong, A plentiful and obvious thing Not at all hard to understand. Then, after twenty, it became At once more difficult to get And more desired -- though all the same More undesirable; for what You are alone has, to achieve The rank of fact, to be expressed In terms of others, or it's just A compensating make-believe. Much better stay in company! To love you must have someone else, Giving requires a legatee, Good neighbours need whole parishfuls Of folk to do it on -- in short, Our virtues are all social; if, Deprived of solitude, you chafe, It's clear you're not the virtuous sort. Viciously, then, I lock my door. The gas-fire breathes. The wind outside Ushers in evening rain. Once more Uncontradicting solitude Supports me on its giant palm; And like a sea-anemone Or simple snail, there cautiously Unfolds, emerges, what I am." ( Best Company )”” [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet reflects on how solitude, once natural and unremarkable, becomes rare and coveted, yet also feels artificial and socially compensated, highlighting tension between isolation and community. **In simple terms:** Solitude shifts from ordinary to prized, yet feels forced. Key Takeaway Embrace solitude while staying connected. Themes solitude community identity human nature social expectations Mood contemplative melancholic reflective Type poetic philosophical literary When to use this quote - creative writing - personal reflection - mental health - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts existentialism psychology social construct Questions to Reflect On - Do you seek solitude for peace or escape? - How does society shape your view of being alone? A Different Perspective Solitude may be idealized, ignoring its potential loneliness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Good Neighbours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-neighbours/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) ## Related quotes > [“Much better stay in company! 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Then, after twenty, it became At once more difficult to get And more desired -- though all the same More undesirable; for what You are alone has, to achieve The rank of fact, to be expressed In terms of others, or it's just A compensating make-believe. Much better stay in company! To love you must have someone else, Giving requires a legatee, Good neighbours need whole parishfuls Of folk to do it on -- in short, Our virtues are all social; if, Deprived of solitude, you chafe, It's clear you're not the virtuous sort. Viciously, then, I lock my door. The gas-fire breathes. The wind outside Ushers in evening rain. 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