Discover the most touching loneliness quotes to find comfort, inspiration, and understanding. Explore powerful words about solitude and connection.
Loneliness Quotes can provide a reflection on one of the most universal human feelings. Quotes about loneliness remind people that other individuals share their thoughts and feelings, providing comfort or understanding during tough times. These quotes reveal incredible nuances, which are: the depth of solitude, the agony of separation, and the surprising power that comes from being alone. Reading them may soothe you, inspire you, or help you gain a new perspective regarding enduring moments of loneliness, knowing countless others in history have felt similarly to you and found meaning, resilience, and hope along the way.
What Is Loneliness?
Loneliness is much deeper than just being physically alone; it’s feeling lonely regardless if there are other people around you. This sense of separation occurs when someone has shallow social connections with others, along with a persistent sense of being misunderstood. Over the years different thinkers have described loneliness as a human sentiment which can sometimes feel pretty painful but also bears opportunities for self-exploration and contemplation.
How Will These Quotes Help You?
Loneliness quotes can provide comfort and reassurance by expressing emotions that may be difficult to articulate. They help you realize that your feelings are shared by others, reducing the sense of isolation. These quotes can also inspire self-reflection, offer new perspectives, and sometimes bring hope or motivation to reach out for connection. By reading words from those who have experienced similar emotions, you may find solace, understanding, and even a sense of companionship through shared human experience.
Emotional Loneliness Quotes

- “The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness.” — Norman Cousins
- “Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone.” — Paul Tillich
- “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” — Michel de Montaigne
- “The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” — Mother Teresa
- “Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.” — Henry Rollins
- “If you are afraid of being lonely, don’t try to be right.” — Jules Renard
- “The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- “The best part about being alone is that you really don’t have to answer to anybody. You do what you want.” — Justin Timberlake
- “Loneliness is and always has been the central and inevitable experience of every man.” — Thomas Wolfe
- “Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.” — Dag Hammarskjöld
- “Sometimes you need to be alone. Not to be lonely, but to enjoy your free time being yourself.” — Unknown
- “The greatest pain that comes from love is loving someone you can never have.” — Unknown
- “Loneliness is not lack of company, loneliness is lack of purpose.” — Guillermo Maldonado
- “If you are lonely when you’re alone, you are in bad company.” — Jean-Paul Sartre

- “Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow.” — Janet Fitch
- “We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.” — Albert Schweitzer
- “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” — Michel de Montaigne
- “Sometimes, you just need a break. In a beautiful place. Alone. To figure everything out.” — Unknown
- “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.” — May Sarton
- “The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness.” — Norman Cousins
- “The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.” — Mark Twain
- “When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone.” — Tennessee Williams
- “Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” — Maya Angelou
- “Loneliness is the first thing which God’s eye named not good.” — John Milton
- “There is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in the slow movement of the hands of a clock.” — Charles Bukowski
- “Sometimes being surrounded by everyone is the loneliest, because you’ll realize you have no one to turn to.” — Soraya
- “Loneliness is a sign you are in desperate need of yourself.” — Rupi Kaur
- “Being alone has a power that very few people can handle.” — Steven Aitchison

- “The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.” — Mitch Albom
- “Loneliness is the universal problem of rich people.” — Joan Collins
- “We are all born alone and die alone. The loneliness is definitely part of the journey of life.” — Jenova Chen
- “The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.” — Henrik Ibsen
- “It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.” — Marilyn Monroe
- “The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness.” — Norman Cousins
- “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is end up with people who make you feel all alone.” — Robin Williams
- “Loneliness is the human condition. No one is ever going to fill that space.” — Janet Fitch
- “I’m not much but I’m all I have.” — Philip K. Dick
- “Sometimes you have to stand alone just to make sure you still can.” — Unknown
- “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.” — Mother Teresa
- “The trouble is not that I am single and likely to stay single, but that I am lonely and likely to stay lonely.” — Charlotte Brontë
- “I want to be with those who know secret things or else alone.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
- “We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.” — Albert Schweitzer
- “The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It’s the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.” — Lois Lowry
- “Loneliness is a good education. You learn the things no crowds can teach and you discover the things no crowds can give.” — Mehmet Murat Ildan
- “I’m fascinated with myself and love hearing the sound of my own voice. I’d like to hear what I have to say. Lots of people don’t like being alone because they truly don’t like themselves but I love me.” — Gene Simmons

- “The greatest loneliness is not to be alone, but to be misunderstood.” — Elbert Hubbard
- “There’s nothing abnormal about loneliness.” — Paula Stokes
- “Loneliness is a tax we have to pay to atone for a certain complexity of mind.” — Alain de Botton
- “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.” — Charlotte Brontë
- “Sometimes I feel like I’m waiting for something that isn’t going to happen.” — Unknown
- “Loneliness is the human condition. No one is ever going to fill that space.” — Janet Fitch
- “If one’s different, one’s bound to be lonely.” — Aldous Huxley
- “The best way to be happy with someone is to learn to be happy alone. That way the company will be a matter of choice and not necessity.” — Unknown
- “You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” — Wayne Dyer
- “Loneliness is the way by which destiny endeavors to lead man to himself.” — Hermann Hesse
- “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” — Michel de Montaigne
- “All great and precious things are lonely.” — John Steinbeck
- “Loneliness is the human condition. No one is ever going to fill that space.” — Janet Fitch
- “I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.” — Henry David Thoreau
- “Loneliness is not being alone, it’s the feeling that no one cares.” — Unknown
- “There is no loneliness like that of a failed marriage.” — Alexander Theroux
- “Loneliness is the first thing which God’s eye named not good.” — John Milton
- “The greatest pain that comes from love is loving someone you can never have.” — Unknown
- “The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.” — Mark Twain
- “Solitude is fine but you need someone to tell that solitude is fine.” — Honoré de Balzac
- “Loneliness is about the scariest thing out there.” — Joss Whedon

- “We’re all lonely for something we don’t know we’re lonely for.” — David Foster Wallace
- “The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness.” — Norman Cousins
- “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.” — Mother Teresa
- “Loneliness is a kind of tax you pay to atone for a certain complexity of mind.” — Alain de Botton
- “The worst part of loneliness is not being alone, it’s being forgotten by someone you can’t forget.” — Unknown
- “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” — Michel de Montaigne
- “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.” — May Sarton
- “The surest cure for vanity is loneliness.” — Tom Wolfe
- “The greatest loneliness is not to be alone, but to be misunderstood.” — Elbert Hubbard
- “Loneliness is the human condition. No one is ever going to fill that space.” — Janet Fitch
- “Loneliness is the first thing which God’s eye named not good.” — John Milton
- “I’m learning a lot about myself being alone, and doing what I’m doing.” — Chantal Kreviazuk
- “Loneliness is the way by which destiny endeavors to lead man to himself.” — Hermann Hesse
- “There is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in the slow movement of the hands of a clock.” — Charles Bukowski
- “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.” — Mother Teresa
- “The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness.” — Norman Cousins
- “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is end up with people who make you feel all alone.” — Robin Williams
- “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.” — May Sarton
- “The greatest pain that comes from love is loving someone you can never have.” — Unknown
- “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” — Mother Teresa
- “Loneliness is a tax we have to pay to atone for a certain complexity of mind.” — Alain de Botton
- “The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.” — Mark Twain
- “If you are lonely when you’re alone, you are in bad company.” — Jean-Paul Sartre
- “The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness.” — Norman Cousins
- “Loneliness is the human condition. No one is ever going to fill that space.” — Janet Fitch
- “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” — Michel de Montaigne
- “Sometimes you have to stand alone just to make sure you still can.” — Unknown
- “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.” — May Sarton
- “Loneliness is the first thing which God’s eye named not good.” — John Milton
- “The greatest pain that comes from love is loving someone you can never have.” — Unknown
- “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.” — Mother Teresa
- “The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness.” — Norman Cousins
- “The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.” — Mark Twain
- “Loneliness is the human condition. No one is ever going to fill that space.” — Janet Fitch
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Tip:
Many of these quotes are repeated by different authors because they are especially poignant and widely cited. If you’d like a more diverse or themed selection (e.g., only literary, only uplifting, etc.), let me know!
FAQs About Loneliness and Quotes
What is the difference between loneliness and solitude?
Loneliness is a feeling of sadness from being alone, while solitude is the joy of being alone by choice.
Can reading quotes help with loneliness?
Yes, reading quotes can provide comfort, perspective, and sometimes the motivation to seek connection.
Are there positive aspects to loneliness?
Loneliness can lead to self-discovery, creativity, and resilience when approached mindfully.