Definitions HQ

Solitude (n.) becomes ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠loneliness when, all by myself, I am deserted by my own self.

Solitude (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠when the thinker is least alone, said Cato — never more active than when doing nothing.

Solitude (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠being by myself, in company with my self — two-in-one — whereas in loneliness I really am one, deserted by everyone else.

Solitude (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the condition in which one is never less alone — never less alone than when by oneself, never more active than when doing nothing.

Solitude (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠rescue the lonely, as when Nietzsche at Sils Maria found that "at noon, One became Two" and Zarathustra came, the guest of guests.