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.]

I was never less alone than when by myself.

I was never less alone than when by myself.

Alone!--That worn-out word,
So idly spoken, and so coldly heard;
Yet all that poets sing, and grief read more

Alone!--That worn-out word,
So idly spoken, and so coldly heard;
Yet all that poets sing, and grief hath known,
Of hope laid waste, knells in that word--Alone!

O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell,
Let it not be among the jumbled heap
Of read more

O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell,
Let it not be among the jumbled heap
Of murky buildings: climb with me the steep,--
Nature's observatory--whence the dell,
In flowery slopes, its river's crystal swell,
May seem a span; let me thy vigils keep
'Mongst boughs pavilion'd, where the deer's swift leap
Startles the wild bee from the foxglove bell.

Solitude would be ideal if you could pick the people to avoid.

Solitude would be ideal if you could pick the people to avoid.

Among them, but not of them.

Among them, but not of them.

Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.

Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.

This is to be along; this, this is solitude!

This is to be along; this, this is solitude!

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

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