"I always considered myself a loner.
"I mean, not like poor-me, Byron-esque, I-should-have-brought-a-swimming-buddy loner. I mean the sort of person who doesn't feel too upset about the prospect of a weekend spent seeing no one, and reading good books on the couch. It wasn't like I was a people-hater or anything. I enjoyed activities and the company of friends. But they were a side dish. I always thought I would be happy without them."
- from Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (page 183 of the hardcover edition)
Any comments? Agree? Disagree?
Would you care to explain the Byron crack? A quick perusal of his biography wasn't overly illuminating.
ReplyDeleteI.. In my own life, I am not USUALLY this way, though when the topic comes up I feel a need to defend my own desire for solitude, which is very present.. Just not usually long lived.
It's illuminating, but I definitely disagree in my own life with that as a model, but only very specifically for me.
- Patrick
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Oh, those wacky romantic poets . . .
ReplyDeleteI don't think this sentiment is considered the norm. Maybe it would at least be better understood if lots of people read Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto, which is a lot of fun.
And if there weren't people who craved the company of people, the world would be a sadder place. :)