“Loneliness is not being alone, It's loving others to no avail.”

“Language has created the word “loneliness” to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word “solitude” to express the glory of being alone.”

Paul Tillich (1886–1965) German-American theologian and philosopher

“Our language has wisely sensed these two sides of man’s being alone. It has created the word “loneliness” to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word “solitude” to express the glory of being alone.”

Paul Tillich (1886–1965) German-American theologian and philosopher

“I no longer think being in love is the polar opposite of being alone, however. I say that because I used to want to be in love again as I assumed this was the opposite of loneliness. I think being in love is an opposite of loneliness, but not the opposite. There are other things I now crave when I am lonely, like community, like friendship, like family. I think our society puts too much pressure on romantic love, and that is why so many romances fail. Romance can't possibly carry all that we want it to.”

Donald Miller book Blue Like Jazz: nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality

“Living with someone you love can be lonelier than living entirely alone, if the one that you love doesn't love you.”

Tennessee Williams (1911–1983) American playwright

“The thing nobody ever tells you about marriage is that sometimes it makes you lonelier than being alone ever could.”

Michael Ian Black (1971) American comedian, actor, writer, and director

“People living alone get used to loneliness.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald book Tender Is the Night

“Real loneliness is not necessarily limited to when you are alone.”

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) American writer

“Those who hate to be socially involved, they are in love with their loneliness and those who feel alone in their company are the true lovers of social acceptance. Either way, life must be balanced between love and hate.”

Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author

“We’re always alone. You can be in a crowded room and still feel the bite of loneliness. Personally, I find that it bites deepest whenever others are around.”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist