--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it…" description: "\"Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it grows through veins, through nerves and muscles; it assumes some right of possession over your body and mind; it f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/r-j-ellory-36725_assuming_loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows_122653.png" --- # Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it grows through veins… ![“Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it grows through veins, through nerves and muscles; it assumes some right of possession over your body and mind; it feeds itself, and creates its own requirement. Loneliness and solitude are walls.” quote by R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/r-j-ellory-36725_assuming_loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows_122653.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/r-j-ellory-36725_assuming_loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows_122653.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/r-j-ellory-36725_assuming_loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows_122653.png) > “Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it grows through veins, through nerves and muscles; it assumes some right of possession over your body and mind; it feeds itself, and creates its own requirement. Loneliness and solitude are walls.” [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Loneliness is depicted as an addictive, invasive force that occupies the body and mind, while solitude is contrasted as a separating wall, highlighting the painful grip of isolation. **In simple terms:** Loneliness is an invasive, addictive isolation. Key Takeaway Isolation can dominate mental and physical well‑being. Themes loneliness psychology addiction mental health Mood somber intense Type psychological portrait When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - remote work environments Key Concepts psychological dependence boundary formation Practical Applications - recognize and address loneliness before it becomes compulsive Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes healthy solitude from destructive loneliness? - How can one break the cycle of addictive isolation? A Different Perspective Equating loneliness with a drug may oversimplify complex emotional states. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body And Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-and-mind/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Loneliness and solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness-and-solitude/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind and body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-body/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## 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/) > [“...Bhutan all but bases its identity upon its loneliness, and its refusal to b assimilated into India, or Tibet, or Nepal. Vietnam, at present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/bhutan-all-but-bases-its-identity-upon-its-loneliness-and-its-refusal/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“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/) > [“Not loneliness, but solitude. Not suffering, but endurance, the discovery of grim kinship with the rocks and sky. And the finding here of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/not-loneliness-but-solitude-not-suffering-but-endurance-the-discovery/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Usually, we think that "good" loneliness is what we call "solitude," the choice of some alone-time. But I want to press on with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-dumm/usually-we-think-that-good-loneliness-is-what-we-call-solitude-the/) [Thomas L. Dumm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-dumm/) > [“Paul Tillich - Loneliness & Solitude: "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain to pray: and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/paul-tillich-loneliness-solitude-and-when-he-had-sent-the-multitudes/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I shall lead you through the loneliness, the solitude you will not understand; but it is my shortcut to your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-shall-lead-you-through-the-loneliness-the-solitude-you-will-not/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is easier, of course, to find dignity in one's solitude. Loneliness is solitude with a problem. Can blue solve the problem, or can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/it-is-easier-of-course-to-find-dignity-in-one-s-solitude-loneliness/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) ## More by R.J. Ellory > [“Love was the breaking and healing of hearts. Love was the misunderstood. Love was faith; love was the promise of now that became hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/love-was-the-breaking-and-healing-of-hearts-love-was-the/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [“Some of us, I imagine, write out of anger; some out of pain; some write out of prejudice or loss, some out of passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/some-of-us-i-imagine-write-out-of-anger-some-out-of-pain-some-write/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [Let the past be what it was, the present what it is, the future the best it can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/let-the-past-be-what-it-was-the-present-what-it-is-the-future-the/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [“The city went on about its business. A new day would soon begin, and nothing so inconsequential as a death possessed the power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/the-city-went-on-about-its-business-a-new-day-would-soon-begin-and/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [“I looked down at my hands. They were folded neatly together on the table like they belonged to someone else, as if someone had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/i-looked-down-at-my-hands-they-were-folded-neatly-together-on-the/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [Sorry is for the things you've done that you shouldn't have not for things you believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/sorry-is-for-the-things-you-ve-done-that-you-shouldn-t-have-not-for/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [“And love seemed now such a tortuous path, such an unknown territory. Navigating the arterial pathways of the heart. And even how it sounded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/and-love-seemed-now-such-a-tortuous-path-such-an-unknown-territory/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [“Perhaps some of us will have learned enough to make a difference, to influence things for the better, to wait until the moment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/perhaps-some-of-us-will-have-learned-enough-to-make-a-difference-to/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [A life to hold, or to see slip through uncaring and inattentive hands, but always a life. And given one, we wish for two,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/a-life-to-hold-or-to-see-slip-through-uncaring-and-inattentive-hands/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [“Hij is niet bang in het donker, want hij draagt genoeg van het donker in zich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/hij-is-niet-bang-in-het-donker-want-hij-draagt-genoeg-van-het-donker/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [Blame is a bitter and indigestible thing, even when the blame is a coat you cut for yourself, even when you stood right there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/blame-is-a-bitter-and-indigestible-thing-even-when-the-blame-is-a/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) [Explore all 12 R.J. Ellory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it grows through veins, through nerves and muscles; it assumes some right of possession over your body and mind; it feeds itself, and creates its own requirement. Loneliness and solitude are walls.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R.J. Ellory" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows-through-veins-through-nerves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows-through-veins-through-nerves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/r-j-ellory-36725_assuming_loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows_122653.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/r-j-ellory-36725_assuming_loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows_122653.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/r-j-ellory-36725_assuming_loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows_122653.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic; it grows through veins, through nerves and muscles; it assumes some right…” — R.J. Ellory", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "R.J. Ellory", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Loneliness is a drug, a narcotic;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows-through-veins-through-nerves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/loneliness-is-a-drug-a-narcotic-it-grows-through-veins-through-nerves/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```