--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...Bhutan all but bases its identity upon…" description: "\"“...Bhutan all but bases its identity upon its loneliness, and its refusal to b assimilated into India, or Tibet, or Nepal. Vietnam, at present, is a p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/pico-iyer-1252_bhutan_bhutan-all-but-bases-its-identity-upon-i_810964.png" --- # ...Bhutan all but bases its identity upon its loneliness… ![“...Bhutan all but bases its identity upon its loneliness, and its refusal to b assimilated into India, or Tibet, or Nepal. Vietnam, at present, is a pretty girl with her face pressed up against the window of the dance hall, waiting to be invited in; Iceland is the mystic poet in the corner, with…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/pico-iyer-1252_bhutan_bhutan-all-but-bases-its-identity-upon-i_810964.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/pico-iyer-1252_bhutan_bhutan-all-but-bases-its-identity-upon-i_810964.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/pico-iyer-1252_bhutan_bhutan-all-but-bases-its-identity-upon-i_810964.png) > ““...Bhutan all but bases its identity upon its loneliness, and its refusal to b assimilated into India, or Tibet, or Nepal. Vietnam, at present, is a pretty girl with her face pressed up against the window of the dance hall, waiting to be invited in; Iceland is the mystic poet in the corner, with her mind on other things. Argentina longs to be part of the world it left and, in its absence, re-creates the place it feels should be its home; Paraguay simply slams the door and puts up a Do Not Disturb sign. Loneliness and solitude, remoteness and seclusion, are many worlds apart.”” [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts how nations define themselves through isolation or openness, highlighting cultural identity shaped by solitude or engagement with the world. **In simple terms:** Countries show identity by either staying apart or joining others. Key Takeaway Recognize how isolation or connection shapes identity. Themes identity culture geopolitics solitude openness Mood reflective analytical Type observational interpretive When to use this quote - policy making - tourism promotion - foreign relations - cultural exchange - national branding Key Concepts nationalism collective memory globalization Questions to Reflect On - How does your country balance solitude and openness? - What benefits arise from embracing external influences? A Different Perspective Isolation can limit economic growth and cultural exchange. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bhutan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bhutan/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Loneliness and solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness-and-solitude/) [Pretty girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-girl/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Travel writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel-writing/) ## Related quotes > [The association between failure, loneliness, and solitude is so strong in our culture that people often find it difficult to believe that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-gordon/the-association-between-failure-loneliness-and-solitude-is-so-strong/) [Suzanne Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-gordon/) > [Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/loneliness-and-solitude-are-two-different-things-when-you-are-lonely/) [Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/) > [“if we don’t have experience with solitude—and this is often the case today—we start to equate loneliness and solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/if-we-don-t-have-experience-with-solitude-and-this-is-often-the-case/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [The very fine line between loneliness and solitude, reflection; being alone, always appealed to me when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-mehldau/the-very-fine-line-between-loneliness-and-solitude-reflection-being/) [Brad Mehldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-mehldau/) > [There's a difference between loneliness and solitude. You pursue solitude, I think. But loneliness is a completely different isolating thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/there-s-a-difference-between-loneliness-and-solitude-you-pursue/) [Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/) > [“The companionship which Adam the second is seeking is not to be found in the de-personalized regimentation of the army, in the automatic coordination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-soloveitchik/the-companionship-which-adam-the-second-is-seeking-is-not-to-be-found/) Joseph B. Soloveitchik > [Remember that although the distinction can be difficult to draw, loneliness and solitude are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/remember-that-although-the-distinction-can-be-difficult-to-draw/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“Writing is a solitary job--that is, no one can help you with it, bu there's nothing lonely about it. I have always been too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writing-is-a-solitary-job-that-is-no-one-can-help-you-with-it-bu/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There's a difference between loneliness and solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/there-s-a-difference-between-loneliness-and-solitude/) [Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/) > [Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it grows through veins, through nerves and muscles; it assumes some right of possession over your body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows-through-veins-through-nerves/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [“Bhutan does seem a bit unreal at times. Hardly anybody in the U.S. knows where it is. I have friends who still think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-leaming/bhutan-does-seem-a-bit-unreal-at-times-hardly-anybody-in-the-u-s/) [Linda Leaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-leaming/) > [“am late for my afternoon coffee with Linda Leaming, an American who has lived in Bhutan for the past nine years. Asia has attracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/am-late-for-my-afternoon-coffee-with-linda-leaming-an-american-who/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [“Semua momen dalam kehidupan saya, setiap orang yang saya temui, semua perjalanan yang telah saya tempuh, setiap keberhasilan yang telah saya nikmati, setiap kesalahan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/semua-momen-dalam-kehidupan-saya-setiap-orang-yang-saya-temui-semua/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [Bharat for Bhutan and Bhutan for Bharat. The colour of our passports may be different but our thinking is the same. India stands committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/bharat-for-bhutan-and-bhutan-for-bharat-the-colour-of-our-passports/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [“Bhutan is the land of la. The monosyllabic word serves as all-purpose affirmation, honorific, and verbal tic. Mostly, it is a softener, appended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/bhutan-is-the-land-of-la-the-monosyllabic-word-serves-as-all-purpose/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) ## More by Pico Iyer > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [For citizens who think themselves puppets in the hands of their rulers, nothing is more satisfying than having rulers as puppets in their hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/for-citizens-who-think-themselves-puppets-in-the-hands-of-their/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Dalai Lama would say that meditation is something that can help everyone. But he's aware that it can be misused or things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-would-say-that-meditation-is-something-that-can-help/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Like any traveler, I'm always looking for those experiences that are almost unique to any place, and watching films around Alaska of the skies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/like-any-traveler-i-m-always-looking-for-those-experiences-that-are/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“When you're hurrying around too quickly," he had said, "there's a part of the world you can't see. If, for example, you're taking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/when-you-re-hurrying-around-too-quickly-he-had-said-there-s-a-part-of/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/we-travel-to-open-our-hearts-and-eyes-and-learn-more-about-the-world/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Dalai Lama, these days, encourages Westerners not to take up Buddhism, partly because he feels that our roots are deep in other traditions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-these-days-encourages-westerners-not-to-take-up/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it's a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/and-if-travel-is-like-love-it-is-in-the-end-mostly-because-it-s-a/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [As soon as I began to talk to Dalai Lama, I realized that Chinese and Tibetans from his point of view are mostly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/as-soon-as-i-began-to-talk-to-dalai-lama-i-realized-that-chinese-and/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [When we are kids, we imagine that to define ourselves or to find ourselves means charting your own individuality, making your own destiny, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/when-we-are-kids-we-imagine-that-to-define-ourselves-or-to-find/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [A writer is a palmist, reading the lines of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/a-writer-is-a-palmist-reading-the-lines-of-the-planet/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [In barely one generation, we've moved from exulting in the time-saving devices that have so expanded our lives to trying to get away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/in-barely-one-generation-we-ve-moved-from-exulting-in-the-time-saving/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [For centuries, Cubas greatest resource has been its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/for-centuries-cubas-greatest-resource-has-been-its-people/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Writing is, in the end, that oddest of anomalies: an intimate letter to a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/writing-is-in-the-end-that-oddest-of-anomalies-an-intimate-letter-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“Was it only through another that I could begin to get at myself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/was-it-only-through-another-that-i-could-begin-to-get-at-myself/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) [Explore all 266 Pico Iyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## More Bhutan quotes > [“Bhutan is the land of la. The monosyllabic word serves as all-purpose affirmation, honorific, and verbal tic. Mostly, it is a softener, appended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/bhutan-is-the-land-of-la-the-monosyllabic-word-serves-as-all-purpose/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [Bharat for Bhutan and Bhutan for Bharat. The colour of our passports may be different but our thinking is the same. India stands committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/bharat-for-bhutan-and-bhutan-for-bharat-the-colour-of-our-passports/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [“Semua momen dalam kehidupan saya, setiap orang yang saya temui, semua perjalanan yang telah saya tempuh, setiap keberhasilan yang telah saya nikmati, setiap kesalahan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/semua-momen-dalam-kehidupan-saya-setiap-orang-yang-saya-temui-semua/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [“am late for my afternoon coffee with Linda Leaming, an American who has lived in Bhutan for the past nine years. Asia has attracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/am-late-for-my-afternoon-coffee-with-linda-leaming-an-american-who/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [“Bhutan does seem a bit unreal at times. Hardly anybody in the U.S. knows where it is. I have friends who still think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-leaming/bhutan-does-seem-a-bit-unreal-at-times-hardly-anybody-in-the-u-s/) [Linda Leaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-leaming/) > [World talks GDP but in Bhutan its about National Happiness. Am sure having India as a neighbour would be 1 of the reasons for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/world-talks-gdp-but-in-bhutan-its-about-national-happiness-am-sure/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [In the year that I take off, I don't have any goals. I just surrender to experiences like traveling or learning yoga and meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-bajaj/in-the-year-that-i-take-off-i-don-t-have-any-goals-i-just-surrender/) [Karan Bajaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-bajaj/) > [Without global action on climate change, Bhutan's tourist and agricultural-based economy faces an acute threat from climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-deese/without-global-action-on-climate-change-bhutan-s-tourist-and/) [Brian Deese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-deese/) > [“It was the ruling King of Bhutan himself who, in the 1980s, set up a system that measured national advancement according to Gross National…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-the-ruling-king-of-bhutan-himself-who-in-the-1980s-set-up-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The moment you enter Bhutan, you notice that there are no traffic lights. It is almost like you've stepped into a Shangri-La or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-bajaj/the-moment-you-enter-bhutan-you-notice-that-there-are-no-traffic/) [Karan Bajaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-bajaj/) > [Bhutan is a very serene country with an incredible history. It has an incredible group of great artisans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/bhutan-is-a-very-serene-country-with-an-incredible-history-it-has-an/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [“If you only visit two towns in Bhutan, make them Paro and Punakha. The west is blessed with the country's loveliest dzong (Punakha), one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonely-planet/if-you-only-visit-two-towns-in-bhutan-make-them-paro-and-punakha-the/) Lonely Planet > [“If I had to name the biggest difference between Bhutan and the rest of the world, I could do it in one word, civility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-leaming/if-i-had-to-name-the-biggest-difference-between-bhutan-and-the-rest/) [Linda Leaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-leaming/) > [I don't want to be taken to Bhutan and smell the flowers. I want to be told something I couldn't have been told any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-don-t-want-to-be-taken-to-bhutan-and-smell-the-flowers-i-want-to-be/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [To be associated with a film that just flat-out makes people happy is such a blessing and a tremendous privilege, and I'll always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/to-be-associated-with-a-film-that-just-flat-out-makes-people-happy-is/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) [Browse all 18 Bhutan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bhutan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...Bhutan all but bases its identity upon its loneliness, and its refusal to b assimilated into India, or Tibet, or Nepal. 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