--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we separate ourselves from the rest…" description: "\"“When we separate ourselves from the rest of the world, the world becomes a lonely and difficult place to live in. When we see ourselves as completely ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/tom-walsh-21995_belonging_when-we-separate-ourselves-from-the-rest_770868.jpg" --- # When we separate ourselves from the rest of the world, the… ![“When we separate ourselves from the rest of the world, the world becomes a lonely and difficult place to live in. When we see ourselves as completely separate, we cannot call upon the power and strength that comes from unity, from being part of a greater whole. In today's world, we buy into the…” quote by Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/tom-walsh-21995_belonging_when-we-separate-ourselves-from-the-rest_770868.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/tom-walsh-21995_belonging_when-we-separate-ourselves-from-the-rest_770868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/tom-walsh-21995_belonging_when-we-separate-ourselves-from-the-rest_770868.jpg) > ““When we separate ourselves from the rest of the world, the world becomes a lonely and difficult place to live in. When we see ourselves as completely separate, we cannot call upon the power and strength that comes from unity, from being part of a greater whole. In today's world, we buy into the lie that if we do see ourselves as--or make ourselves into--a part of the greater whole, then we'll lose our identity and become nothing more than another face in the crowd, a lemming who does nothing but follow others and never creates his or her own life. Nothing, though, could be further from the truth.”” [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Separating from humanity leads to loneliness; unity provides strength and identity. **In simple terms:** Isolation weakens; community strengthens. Key Takeaway Embrace belonging, not isolation. Themes community identity interdependence loneliness strength Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teamwork - social movements - mental health - leadership - education Key Concepts social cohesion collective identity psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does community shape personal identity? - What fears arise from losing individuality? A Different Perspective Individualism can ignore systemic support structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Oneness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneness/) [Power and strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-and-strength/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Togetherness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/togetherness/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) ## Related quotes > [What is important is that we make sure to work together, that we understand our strength comes from unity and not division.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-is-important-is-that-we-make-sure-to-work-together-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We don't want to go starting completely separate businesses that do nothing for our user base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-don-t-want-to-go-starting-completely-separate-businesses-that-do/) [Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/) > [I am certain that we need a solution completely separate from military intervention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/i-am-certain-that-we-need-a-solution-completely-separate-from/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [The more perfect the artist, the more completely separate in him will be the man who suffers and the mind which creates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/the-more-perfect-the-artist-the-more-completely-separate-in-him-will/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [To get audiences to go see a film is a completely separate issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/to-get-audiences-to-go-see-a-film-is-a-completely-separate-issue/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [“I miss you and I miss you naked. Those are two completely separate ways of missing you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillaume-morissette/i-miss-you-and-i-miss-you-naked-those-are-two-completely-separate/) [Guillaume Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillaume-morissette/) > [My work as an artist is completely separate from my work as a philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-work-as-an-artist-is-completely-separate-from-my-work-as-a/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [The thing with being able to do accents is that it's still completely separate from being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-nivola/the-thing-with-being-able-to-do-accents-is-that-it-s-still-completely/) [Alessandro Nivola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-nivola/) > [My politics would be, must be, have to be, completely separate from my judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kagan/my-politics-would-be-must-be-have-to-be-completely-separate-from-my/) [Elena Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kagan/) > [But I've always felt a need to have a life which is completely separate - at least as far as possible - from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/but-i-ve-always-felt-a-need-to-have-a-life-which-is-completely/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Hope is the closest thing to magic one can ever witness. With it's power and strength, miracles will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-kellam/hope-is-the-closest-thing-to-magic-one-can-ever-witness-with-it-s/) [Hilary Kellam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-kellam/) > [When we set our hearts upon the things of this world and fail to be strictly honest with the Lord, we do not grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/when-we-set-our-hearts-upon-the-things-of-this-world-and-fail-to-be/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [Let your love be your energy... bring God wherever you go, in everything you do, and whoever comes a long your way. Let His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/let-your-love-be-your-energy-bring-god-wherever-you-go-in-everything/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-curie/life-is-not-easy-for-any-of-us-but-what-of-that-we-must-have/) [Marie Curie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-curie/) > [Don't pray for an easy life, pray to be a stronger man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/don-t-pray-for-an-easy-life-pray-to-be-a-stronger-man/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More by Tom Walsh > [“just for today, i'll do something nice for someone who's not expecting it. .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/just-for-today-i-ll-do-something-nice-for-someone-who-s-not-expecting/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Sometimes we mistake patience for weakness, but the patient person often realizes that it's much more important for another person to discover his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/sometimes-we-mistake-patience-for-weakness-but-the-patient-person/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“We must trust that what we're doing has a purpose. We must realize that we're not here to make kids conform or perform, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/we-must-trust-that-what-we-re-doing-has-a-purpose-we-must-realize/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“just for today, i'll try to maintain a positive perspective, no matter what the situation. . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/just-for-today-i-ll-try-to-maintain-a-positive-perspective-no-matter/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“This need to be right has put a huge burden on me, one that I never deserved to have to carry. Part of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/this-need-to-be-right-has-put-a-huge-burden-on-me-one-that-i-never/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think alike are more admirable and estimable than those who think for themselves? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-people-who-think-alike-are-more/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“for today, i'll hold on to my dreams and respect them. .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/for-today-i-ll-hold-on-to-my-dreams-and-respect-them/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [Humor results when society says you can't scratch certain things in public, but they itch in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/humor-results-when-society-says-you-can-t-scratch-certain-things-in/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Some people search out solitude without even thinking that they need to do so--it's an innate urge with them, something that they do as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/some-people-search-out-solitude-without-even-thinking-that-they-need/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Saying a prayer can be as simple as thinking positive thoughts about someone—it’s not an act that needs to be tied to any particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/saying-a-prayer-can-be-as-simple-as-thinking-positive-thoughts-about/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“The simple truth is that love is a part of who we are, not something that others "give" to us if we're worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/the-simple-truth-is-that-love-is-a-part-of-who-we-are-not-something/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“It seems that the more we learn about our work, the easier and the more interesting it becomes to us. Tasks that used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/it-seems-that-the-more-we-learn-about-our-work-the-easier-and-the/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Our culture values independence and isolation far too much, it seems to me--we have a hard time making ourselves part of things, of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/our-culture-values-independence-and-isolation-far-too-much-it-seems/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“We lose our ability to live fully if we neglect or ignore our responsibility to the other people who share this planet with us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/we-lose-our-ability-to-live-fully-if-we-neglect-or-ignore-our/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“So it's important to remember that our job isn't to solve other people's problems for them, but to help them to discover the ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/so-it-s-important-to-remember-that-our-job-isn-t-to-solve-other/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) [Explore all 28 Tom Walsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) ## More Belonging quotes > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [I always think the best way of motivating yourself is to put yourself in a situation where you feel like you're belonging to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-always-think-the-best-way-of-motivating-yourself-is-to-put-yourself/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [It is a well-settled principle of the international code that where one nation owes another a liquidated debt which it refuses or neglects to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/it-is-a-well-settled-principle-of-the-international-code-that-where/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I am convinced that human nature is basically affectionate and good. If our behavior follows our kind and loving nature, immense benefits will result,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-convinced-that-human-nature-is-basically-affectionate-and-good/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“The reason “belonging” was so potent, so attractive, so much a part of the human yearning, was that it also meant safety, and loyalty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-reason-belonging-was-so-potent-so-attractive-so-much-a-part-of/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [If some student belonging to weaker section of society suffers distress, humanity says it must be addressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-jaitley/if-some-student-belonging-to-weaker-section-of-society-suffers/) [Arun Jaitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-jaitley/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [My father was a man of great charity towards the poor, and compassion for the sick, and also for servants; so much so, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-father-was-a-man-of-great-charity-towards-the-poor-and-compassion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maybe the problem with the world is, that people are too quick to judge. And out of desperation, the loneliness creeps in like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/maybe-the-problem-with-the-world-is-that-people-are-too-quick-to/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The hardest thing about being at Sony was not the travel; it was being divorced from the public and private life I had in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stringer/the-hardest-thing-about-being-at-sony-was-not-the-travel-it-was-being/) [Howard Stringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stringer/) > [Whenever you are examining someone else's belongings, you are bound to learn many interesting things about the person of which you were not previously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-you-are-examining-someone-else-s-belongings-you-are-bound-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [We have become this very fear-based culture, especially post-9/11. Fear is the opposite of love, in my opinion. I think there would be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-have-become-this-very-fear-based-culture-especially-post-9-11-fear/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) [Browse all 876 Belonging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we separate ourselves from the rest of the world, the world becomes a lonely and difficult place to live in. When we see ourselves as completely separate, we cannot call upon the power and strength that comes from unity, from being part of a greater whole. 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