“Keeping to Oneself” 🌌
Meaning and Usage
“To be reserved and aloof, avoiding the company of others.” This phrase encapsulates the idea of self-imposed solitude, cherishing quiet over boisterous company. Samuel Richardson used this phrase in Clarissa (1748), and numerous other writers echoed it, often noting its particularly English flavor.
Related Terms & Similar Expressions:
- Lone wolf
- Solitary confinement (a bit more extreme!)
- Going it alone
- Being a wallflower
Synonyms:
- Introverted
- Reclusive
- Reserved
Antonyms:
- Gregarious
- Outgoing
- Sociable
Humor-Filled Quotes
“He kept, in popular parlance, himself to himself. Like many policemen, Dunday thought.” – Robert Barnard, Death and the Chaste Apprentice (1989)
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Dr. Seuss
“To err is human, to loaf is Parisian.” – Victor Hugo
Proverbs
- “Still waters run deep.” – Emphasizing depth over surface activity.
- “Silence is golden.” – Highlighting the value found in quietude.
Literary References:
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau – celebrates solitude and self-relfection.
- 1984 by George Orwell – explores isolation under a repressive regime.
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway – a solitary struggle against nature.
Songs:
- “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel – underscores themes of solitude.
- “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode – treasures the peace in stillness.
- “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles – a turning point from isolation to warmth.
Movies:
- Cast Away – the ultimate tale of unintended isolation and finding strength from within.
- Into the Wild – a young man’s solitary journey through the Alaskan wilderness.
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – about breaking the chains of solitude to embrace adventure.
✨ Thought-Provoking Nugget
Solitude can serve as a fertile ground for creativity. What masterpiece might you mold in your moments alone?
Quiz Time! 🌟
✒️ Authored by S. E. Lonerpoet, October 2, 2023
🌠 As we bid adieu, remember: in every corner of solitude, there’s a poet waiting to uncover the beauty of quiet reflection. Embrace the tranquility! 🌑
