--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: of all the deprivations which afflict…" description: "\"of all the deprivations which afflict humankind, none is more dreadful than loneliness. A corrosive, it eats the heart out. People were meant to live b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/zelda-popkin-33601_breathing_of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-hu_1506595.jpg" --- # of all the deprivations which afflict humankind, none is… ![“of all the deprivations which afflict humankind, none is more dreadful than loneliness. A corrosive, it eats the heart out. People were meant to live by twos, with someone close with whom to share good and bad, to hear breathing in the dark room at night. Being alone is the one unnatural act.” quote by Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/zelda-popkin-33601_breathing_of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-hu_1506595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/zelda-popkin-33601_breathing_of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-hu_1506595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/zelda-popkin-33601_breathing_of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-hu_1506595.jpg) > “of all the deprivations which afflict humankind, none is more dreadful than loneliness. A corrosive, it eats the heart out. People were meant to live by twos, with someone close with whom to share good and bad, to hear breathing in the dark room at night. Being alone is the one unnatural act.” [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) ## 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 portrayed as a profound, corrosive deprivation that contradicts humanity’s innate need for companionship, causing emotional erosion. **In simple terms:** Loneliness harms the heart and feels unnatural. Key Takeaway Seek meaningful connections to counteract isolation. Themes loneliness human nature companionship Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical emotional social When to use this quote - marriage - friendships - support groups - living arrangements Key Concepts psychology social bonding existential dread Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment influence feelings of isolation? - What steps can you take to build a supportive network? A Different Perspective Loneliness can also foster self‑reflection and creativity, not just suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-room/) [Deprivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprivation/) [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) ## Related quotes > [I preach that odd defiant melancholy that sees the dreadful loneliness of the human soul and the pitiful disaster of human life as ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-preach-that-odd-defiant-melancholy-that-sees-the-dreadful/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [This lifestyle is not about deprivation. It's about living inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/this-lifestyle-is-not-about-deprivation-it-s-about-living-inspired/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Discrimination and multiple deprivations of human rights are also frequently part of the problem, sentencing entire populations to poverty... It is surely a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navi-pillay/discrimination-and-multiple-deprivations-of-human-rights-are-also/) Navi Pillay > [State governments seek local remedies for the globally fabricated deprivations and miseries in vain - just as the individuals-by-the-decree-of-fate (read: by the impact of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/state-governments-seek-local-remedies-for-the-globally-fabricated/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [As soon as you lay down, that's when the most bizarre things start coming out of her mouth. 'Goodnight, baby.' 'Do you think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ferrara/as-soon-as-you-lay-down-that-s-when-the-most-bizarre-things-start/) [Adam Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ferrara/) > [Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/inactivity-and-deprivation-of-all-accustomed-stimulus-is-not-rest-it/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Many low-income children face chronic stress from nutritional deprivation or persistent violence at home or in the community. By addressing their medical, emotional and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/many-low-income-children-face-chronic-stress-from-nutritional/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [“Suicide is nothing, but an act of depriving the soul from it's very right to liberation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aniruddha-sastikar/suicide-is-nothing-but-an-act-of-depriving-the-soul-from-it-s-very/) [Aniruddha Sastikar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aniruddha-sastikar/) > [What government has been doing, we've got major programmes now, of billions of pounds, which are directed by central government into these areas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prescott/what-government-has-been-doing-we-ve-got-major-programmes-now-of/) [John Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prescott/) > [My mother suffers mental health problems and has a learning deprivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rayner/my-mother-suffers-mental-health-problems-and-has-a-learning/) [Angela Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rayner/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Capitalism has created a situation called scarcity. And that scarcity is not natural, it's socially induced. Along with that sense of scarcity, or feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/capitalism-has-created-a-situation-called-scarcity-and-that-scarcity/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [“We have created a manic world nauseous with the pursuit of material wealth. Many also bear their cross of imagined deprivation, while their fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/we-have-created-a-manic-world-nauseous-with-the-pursuit-of-material/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [“SOME OF THE HARDEST parts of parenting never change—like sleep deprivation, which, according to researchers at Queen’s University in Ontario, can in some respects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-senior/some-of-the-hardest-parts-of-parenting-never-change-like-sleep/) [Jennifer Senior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-senior/) > [Deprivation is for me what daffodils were for Wordsworth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/deprivation-is-for-me-what-daffodils-were-for-wordsworth/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) ## More by Zelda Popkin > [Each husband gets the infidelity he deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/each-husband-gets-the-infidelity-he-deserves/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [Inspiration is just one requirement for being a writer. Another is keeping regular working hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/inspiration-is-just-one-requirement-for-being-a-writer-another-is/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [New York's the place where you can have a private life. You can do anything, be anything you please. New Yorkers mind their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/new-york-s-the-place-where-you-can-have-a-private-life-you-can-do/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [Every door opens to something and it is better to go toward that something than to sit staring at the blank wall of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/every-door-opens-to-something-and-it-is-better-to-go-toward-that/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [The newer education put stress on culture ... Saturday mornings, the young were brushed and washed, forced into blue cheviot suits, and dragged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/the-newer-education-put-stress-on-culture-saturday-mornings-the-young/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [You do not conceive a novel as easily as you conceive a child, nor even half as easily as you create nonfiction work. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/you-do-not-conceive-a-novel-as-easily-as-you-conceive-a-child-nor/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [Destiny is thrifty. To weave her tapestry, she uses even the tiniest snips of thread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/destiny-is-thrifty-to-weave-her-tapestry-she-uses-even-the-tiniest/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [No war can end war except a total war which leaves no human creature on earth. Each war creates the causes of war: hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/no-war-can-end-war-except-a-total-war-which-leaves-no-human-creature/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [“What he found impossible was to shut off his brain, to detach himself from the intriguing problems with which (he) was involved, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/what-he-found-impossible-was-to-shut-off-his-brain-to-detach-himself/) [zelda popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [A country inn is a percolator. News seeps, simmers, and bubbles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/a-country-inn-is-a-percolator-news-seeps-simmers-and-bubbles/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [Grief is illness. You cannot breathe; you cannot walk or eat or sleep. The sickness is entire, the body and the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/grief-is-illness-you-cannot-breathe-you-cannot-walk-or-eat-or-sleep/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [There's no privacy for the violently dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/there-s-no-privacy-for-the-violently-dead/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) > [pity runs its course. An hour comes when no hand but your own can build your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/pity-runs-its-course-an-hour-comes-when-no-hand-but-your-own-can/) [Zelda Popkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) [Explore all 14 Zelda Popkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "of all the deprivations which afflict humankind, none is more dreadful than loneliness. A corrosive, it eats the heart out. People were meant to live by twos, with someone close with whom to share good and bad, to hear breathing in the dark room at night. Being alone is the one unnatural act.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zelda Popkin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-humankind-none-is-more-dreadful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breathing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-humankind-none-is-more-dreadful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/zelda-popkin-33601_breathing_of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-hu_1506595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/zelda-popkin-33601_breathing_of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-hu_1506595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/zelda-popkin-33601_breathing_of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-hu_1506595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“of all the deprivations which afflict humankind, none is more dreadful than loneliness. A corrosive, it eats…” — Zelda Popkin", "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": "Zelda Popkin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-popkin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "of all the deprivations which afflict...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-humankind-none-is-more-dreadful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-popkin/of-all-the-deprivations-which-afflict-humankind-none-is-more-dreadful/#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 } } ] } ```