---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to give, to be given, and solitude…"
description: "\"“I want to give, to be given, and solitude in which to unfold my possessions.”\" — Virginia Woolf"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/virginia-woolf-49_solitude_i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude_2378345.jpg"
---

#  I want to give, to be given, and solitude in which to…

![“I want to give, to be given, and solitude in which to unfold my possessions.” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/virginia-woolf-49_solitude_i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude_2378345.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/virginia-woolf-49_solitude_i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude_2378345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/virginia-woolf-49_solitude_i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude_2378345.jpg)

> ““I want to give, to be given, and solitude in which to unfold my possessions.””

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Giving, receiving, and solitude enable personal development and the unfolding of one’s inner self.

**In simple terms:** Giving, receiving, and solitude foster personal growth.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate balance of generosity, openness, and reflective solitude.

Themes

self growth solitude generosity identity

Mood

contemplative introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- creative writing
- personal development
- mindfulness

Key Concepts

psychology philosophy literature

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance solitude with connection?
- What does “unfold my possessions” mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Too much solitude can lead to isolation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/)

## Related quotes

> [I do not want to be admired. I want to give, to be given, and solitude in which to unfold my possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-do-not-want-to-be-admired-i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [Apply yourself to solitude. One who is given to solitude knows things as they really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/apply-yourself-to-solitude-one-who-is-given-to-solitude-knows-things/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [I want to earn it, I don't want anything given to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-want-to-earn-it-i-don-t-want-anything-given-to-me/)

[Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/)

> [To want what I have, to take what I'm given with grace. For this I pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/to-want-what-i-have-to-take-what-i-m-given-with-grace-for-this-i-pray/)

[Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/)

> [I don't want anything given to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-want-anything-given-to-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We need to meet, embrace and work with what we're given. For what we want and what we're given often serve two different gods.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/we-need-to-meet-embrace-and-work-with-what-we-re-given-for-what-we/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [Guys all want something beyond what they're being given - in every facet of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-powell/guys-all-want-something-beyond-what-they-re-being-given-in-every/)

[Glen Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-powell/)

> [“It is when we are completely fulfilled and want for nothing more that we are given everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mcgahan/it-is-when-we-are-completely-fulfilled-and-want-for-nothing-more-that/)

[Kate McGahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mcgahan/)

> [If you give what can be taken, you are not really giving. Take what you are given, not what you want to be given.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/if-you-give-what-can-be-taken-you-are-not-really-giving-take-what-you/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [“If you want to become whole, let yourself be partial. If you want to become straight, let yourself be crooked. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-you-want-to-become-whole-let-yourself-be-partial-if-you-want-to/)

[Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/)

> [“If you give what can be takes, you are not really giving. Take what you are given, not what you want to be given.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/if-you-give-what-can-be-takes-you-are-not-really-giving-take-what-you/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [We only want that which is given naturally to all peoples of the world, to be masters of our own fate, not of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/we-only-want-that-which-is-given-naturally-to-all-peoples-of-the/)

[Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/)

> [“When you come to me, you’ll come to me because you want to. Not because of what I have done or given you. You’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milly-taiden/when-you-come-to-me-you-ll-come-to-me-because-you-want-to-not-because/)

[Milly Taiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milly-taiden/)

> [Perhaps this was the secret to being at peace: want nothing but what is given to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-waldman/perhaps-this-was-the-secret-to-being-at-peace-want-nothing-but-what/)

[Amy Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-waldman/)

> [If you want to be given everything, give everything up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-be-given-everything-give-everything-up/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Virginia Woolf

> [Fatigue is the safest sleeping draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/fatigue-is-the-safest-sleeping-draught/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“The train slows and lengthens, as we approach London, the centre, and my heart draws out too, in fear, in exaltation. I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-train-slows-and-lengthens-as-we-approach-london-the-centre-and-my/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“Across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side all is correct, definite, orderly; the paths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/across-the-broad-continent-of-a-woman-s-life-falls-the-shadow-of-a/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“Other worshipful objects were content with worship; men, women, God, all let one kneel prostrate; but this form, were it only the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/other-worshipful-objects-were-content-with-worship-men-women-god-all/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? Wise men never say anything else apparently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/why-does-samuel-butler-say-wise-men-never-say-what-they-think-of/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“Sometimes he woke with a brain like lead; at others it was as if a thousand wax tapers were alight and people were throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/sometimes-he-woke-with-a-brain-like-lead-at-others-it-was-as-if-a/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [A veil of insanity everywhere: Oh why I was born in this age? It is a terrible age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-veil-of-insanity-everywhere-oh-why-i-was-born-in-this-age-it-is-a/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [Love ought to stop on both sides, don’t you think, simultaneously?’ He spoke without any stress on the words, so as not to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/love-ought-to-stop-on-both-sides-don-t-you-think-simultaneously-he/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“It is so vast an alleviation to be able to point for another to look at. And then not to talk. To follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/it-is-so-vast-an-alleviation-to-be-able-to-point-for-another-to-look/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“What a vast fertility of pleasure books hold for me! (...) I think I could happily live here & read forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-vast-fertility-of-pleasure-books-hold-for-me-i-think-i-could/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“what a luxury to be alone once more,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-luxury-to-be-alone-once-more/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“...a woman writing thinks back through her mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-woman-writing-thinks-back-through-her-mothers/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“For one's children so often gave one's own perceptions a little thrust forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/for-one-s-children-so-often-gave-one-s-own-perceptions-a-little/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“She would not say of anyone in the world now that they were this or were that. She felt very young; at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-would-not-say-of-anyone-in-the-world-now-that-they-were-this-or/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

[Explore all 1,872 Virginia Woolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

## More Solitude quotes

> [“Truth is, I’m generally happiest when it’s just me. It’s okay to be madly in love with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/truth-is-i-m-generally-happiest-when-it-s-just-me-it-s-okay-to-be/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/)

[Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/)

> [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [“I still love to love my friends, but I punctuate those moments with solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-klein/i-still-love-to-love-my-friends-but-i-punctuate-those-moments-with/)

[Stephanie Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-klein/)

> [You will not find a soulmate in the quiet of your room. You must go to a noisy place and look in the quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/you-will-not-find-a-soulmate-in-the-quiet-of-your-room-you-must-go-to/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [“Point is, that’s when I really realized that I don’t think like most people. I’m fine with solitude. In fact, I get antsy when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-e-taylor/point-is-that-s-when-i-really-realized-that-i-don-t-think-like-most/)

[Dennis E. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-e-taylor/)

> [By all means use some time to be alone, salute thyself, see what thy soul doth wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/by-all-means-use-some-time-to-be-alone-salute-thyself-see-what-thy/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [“...the solitude was intoxicating. On my first night there I lay on my back on the sticky carpet for hours, in the murky orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/the-solitude-was-intoxicating-on-my-first-night-there-i-lay-on-my/)

[Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/)

> [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“The journey towards your inner self is Solitude!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farheen-viquas/the-journey-towards-your-inner-self-is-solitude/)

Farheen Viquas

> [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/)

[Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/)

> [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/)

Nicholas Roerich

> [“Well…there’s only one glove. Right away, I wonder, where’s the other glove? How did it become separated from its mate? Does it feel lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-kage/well-there-s-only-one-glove-right-away-i-wonder-where-s-the-other/)

[Linda Kage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-kage/)

> [“Seclusion wasn't good for anyone; it made you forget how to protect yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-james/seclusion-wasn-t-good-for-anyone-it-made-you-forget-how-to-protect/)

[Heather James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-james/)

> [I cannot keep quiet even when I am a lone voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-cannot-keep-quiet-even-when-i-am-a-lone-voice/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

[Browse all 4,219 Solitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I want to give, to be given, and solitude in which to unfold my possessions.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Virginia Woolf"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude-in-which-to-unfold-my/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Solitude"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude-in-which-to-unfold-my/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/virginia-woolf-49_solitude_i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude_2378345.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/virginia-woolf-49_solitude_i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude_2378345.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/virginia-woolf-49_solitude_i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude_2378345.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I want to give, to be given, and solitude in which to unfold my possessions.” — Virginia Woolf",
                "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": "Virginia Woolf",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I want to give, to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude-in-which-to-unfold-my/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-want-to-give-to-be-given-and-solitude-in-which-to-unfold-my/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```