Wednesday, 08 July 2009

• Currently An American Tragedy (Library of America #140) By Theodore Dreiser, Thomas P. Riggio see related

  One Hundred Years of...

  “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.

   
  I remember reading this quote a long time ago and disliking it though I no longer remember why. Coming across it again it appeals to me more. I constantly find myself alone and because sometimes it is painful and other times what I prefer, I like the idea of assigning words for each state. I love my solitude because it's my haven. I think and dream and live in a world which is completely my own. Real people will say or do the impossible; the fictional become real. I pretend to be talented and vivacious.
  
  But then I reflect on real life: real people and the real things they say and do. It's all so disappointing because everything that's real is either boring or...well, disappointing. Real possibilities seem impossible. Real people at times are so distant from me, and I find myself shrouded in loneliness.
  
  It's so great that language has two different senses (loneliness and solitude) for one reference (alone). Oh, philosophy. Oh, Wittgenstein. I bet he was a lonely man. Make that a solitary man. I always imagine philosophers enjoying their solitude.
  
  

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