--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My own study of the networked life has…" description: "\"My own study of the networked life has left me thinking about intimacy - about being with people in person, hearing their voices and seeing their faces..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/sherry-turkle-2764_faces_my-own-study-of-the-networked-life-has-l_1502933.png" --- # My own study of the networked life has left me thinking… ![“My own study of the networked life has left me thinking about intimacy - about being with people in person, hearing their voices and seeing their faces, trying to know their hearts. And it has left me thinking about solitude - the kind that refreshes and restores. Loneliness is failed solitude.” quote by Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/sherry-turkle-2764_faces_my-own-study-of-the-networked-life-has-l_1502933.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/sherry-turkle-2764_faces_my-own-study-of-the-networked-life-has-l_1502933.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/sherry-turkle-2764_faces_my-own-study-of-the-networked-life-has-l_1502933.png) > “My own study of the networked life has left me thinking about intimacy - about being with people in person, hearing their voices and seeing their faces, trying to know their hearts. And it has left me thinking about solitude - the kind that refreshes and restores. Loneliness is failed solitude.” [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) ## 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 the deep connection found in face‑to‑face interaction with the restorative power of healthy solitude, warning that loneliness is merely solitude gone wrong. **In simple terms:** Person-to-person contact nurtures intimacy; solitude can heal. Key Takeaway Seek real presence and balanced alone time. Themes intimacy solitude loneliness technology Mood reflective hopeful concerned Type philosophical inspirational cautionary When to use this quote - family meals - remote work breaks - mindful meditation - digital detox - therapy sessions Key Concepts social connection psychological well‑being digital life Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate healthy solitude from loneliness? - What practices help you stay present with others? A Different Perspective In a hyper‑connected world, even intentional solitude can feel isolating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Uplifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uplifting/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Loneliness is failed solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/loneliness-is-failed-solitude/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-best-thinking-has-been-done-in-solitude-the-worst-has-been-done/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“Creativity is a blessing and curse. You can't look away from creating more and always want to do better and you will always suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crestless-wave/creativity-is-a-blessing-and-curse-you-can-t-look-away-from-creating/) Crestless Wave > [Of course, when one is faced with a canvas, one is no longer alone, and the sense of solitude diminishes. This can be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/of-course-when-one-is-faced-with-a-canvas-one-is-no-longer-alone-and/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [“Solitude of this kind makes me unaware. The roots that bind my person, makes me yearn for freedom and more. I wish there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-subramanian/solitude-of-this-kind-makes-me-unaware-the-roots-that-bind-my-person/) Pooja Subramanian > [Most people have never known solitude… But there are a few of the other kind who can go back to their rooms anywhere and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-aragon/most-people-have-never-known-solitude-but-there-are-a-few-of-the/) [Louis Aragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-aragon/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Our words are very powerful, always make sure that you use the right words, which encourages people instead of discouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/our-words-are-very-powerful-always-make-sure-that-you-use-the-right/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [What a strange power the perception of beauty is! It seems to ebb and flow like some secret tide, independent alike of health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-benson/what-a-strange-power-the-perception-of-beauty-is-it-seems-to-ebb-and/) [A. C. Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-benson/) > [The time frame and how people treated each other was upsetting, but what's great about this story is that they really focus on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/the-time-frame-and-how-people-treated-each-other-was-upsetting-but/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [I think we're great. I think we've still got it. And I think we've got something to give to people. And I think in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brown/i-think-we-re-great-i-think-we-ve-still-got-it-and-i-think-we-ve-got/) [Ian Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-brown/) > [It's always something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/it-s-always-something/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [If You want to be Awesome, You have to kick all the negative and boring people out of your life and arm yourself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajdeep-sarkar/if-you-want-to-be-awesome-you-have-to-kick-all-the-negative-and/) [Rajdeep Sarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajdeep-sarkar/) > [There is no such thing as ugly, everyone is beautiful in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hoskins/there-is-no-such-thing-as-ugly-everyone-is-beautiful-in-their-own-way/) Mandy Hoskins > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) ## More by Sherry Turkle > [“From watching children play with objects designed as “amusements,” we come to a new place, a place of cold comforts. Child and adult, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/from-watching-children-play-with-objects-designed-as-amusements-we/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“I said that we use digital “passbacks” to placate young children who say they are bored. We are not teaching them that boredom can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/i-said-that-we-use-digital-passbacks-to-placate-young-children-who/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“enduring technological optimism, a belief that as other things go wrong, science will go right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/enduring-technological-optimism-a-belief-that-as-other-things-go/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Conversation is the most human and humanizing thing that we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/conversation-is-the-most-human-and-humanizing-thing-that-we-do/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“In the classic children’s story The Velveteen Rabbit, a stuffed animal becomes “real” because of a child’s love. Tamagotchis do not wait passively but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/in-the-classic-children-s-story-the-velveteen-rabbit-a-stuffed-animal/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Human relationships are rich and they're messy and they're demanding. And we clean them up with technology. Texting, email, posting, all of these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/human-relationships-are-rich-and-they-re-messy-and-they-re-demanding/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“But at the same time, there is pressure to use technology in classroom in ways that make conversation nearly impossible. Interestingly, this technology is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/but-at-the-same-time-there-is-pressure-to-use-technology-in-classroom/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [I have to fight the impulse to use my phone as an alarm clock rather than leaving it in another room. If I don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/i-have-to-fight-the-impulse-to-use-my-phone-as-an-alarm-clock-rather/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [It all stems from the same thing - which is that when we are face to face - and this is what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/it-all-stems-from-the-same-thing-which-is-that-when-we-are-face-to/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“The new technologies allow us to “dial down” human contact, to titrate its nature and extent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-new-technologies-allow-us-to-dial-down-human-contact-to-titrate/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [We think constant connection will make us feel less lonely. The opposite is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/we-think-constant-connection-will-make-us-feel-less-lonely-the/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [If you're happy with where the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter have taken you, I'm not the Grinch. Someone called me Sherry Turkle's "evil Luddite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/if-you-re-happy-with-where-the-internet-facebook-and-twitter-have/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [My highest value is not that the trains are on time. I want to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/my-highest-value-is-not-that-the-trains-are-on-time-i-want-to-be-free/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [The selfie, like all technology, causes us to reflect on our human values. This is a good thing because it challenges us to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-selfie-like-all-technology-causes-us-to-reflect-on-our-human/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Technology doesn't just do things for us. It does things to us, changing not just what we do but who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/technology-doesn-t-just-do-things-for-us-it-does-things-to-us/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) [Explore all 151 Sherry Turkle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My own study of the networked life has left me thinking about intimacy - about being with people in person, hearing their voices and seeing their faces, trying to know their hearts. And it has left me thinking about solitude - the kind that refreshes and restores. 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