Converse with men makes sharp the glittering wit,
But God to man doth speak in solitude.

Converse with men makes sharp the glittering wit,
But God to man doth speak in solitude.

But 'midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men,
To hear, to see, to feel, and to possess,
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But 'midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men,
To hear, to see, to feel, and to possess,
And roam along, the world's tired denizen,
With none who bless us, none whom we can bless.

Loneliness is and always has been the central and inevitable experience of every man.

Loneliness is and always has been the central and inevitable experience of every man.

I am as one who is left alone at a banquet, the lights dead and
the flowers faded.

I am as one who is left alone at a banquet, the lights dead and
the flowers faded.

Thrice happy he, who by some shady grove,
Far from the clamorous world; doth live his own;
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Thrice happy he, who by some shady grove,
Far from the clamorous world; doth live his own;
Though solitary, who is not alone,
But doth converse with that eternal love.

Nobody with me at sea but myself.

Nobody with me at sea but myself.

I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind

I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind

That he was never less at leisure than when at leisure: nor that
he was ever less alone than read more

That he was never less at leisure than when at leisure: nor that
he was ever less alone than when alone.
[Lat., Nunquam se minus otiosum esse quam cum otiosus; nec minus
solum quam cum solus esset.]

Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone on a wide, wide sea.

Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone on a wide, wide sea.