It sometimes feels like you’re alone in your loneliness, but that’s only because many find it uncomfortable to talk about. There are various at-home tools to cope with loneliness and it may also help to talk about feeling alone, anonymously.

Too many “feeling alone” quotes make you feel like you can feel less lonely by sheer willpower. But they don’t really capture how it feels to be alone, and to feel like nobody can help you. So we compiled some quotes that actually get it, below.

Quotes On Feeling Alone Around Others

When it feels like nobody understands you, it can be the loneliest feeling in the world.

Loneliness around friends can make it very hard to share your feelings and thoughts, which causes a cycle of isolation. These quotes capture how it feels to be lonely because of those around you. 

“The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.”

“The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.”

― Mitch Albom

“People think being alone makes you lonely, but I don’t think that’s true. Being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest thing in the world.”

“People think being alone makes you lonely, but I don’t think that’s true. Being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest thing in the world.” 

― Kim Culbertson

“There are worse things than feeling alone. Things like being with someone and still feeling alone.”

“There are worse things than feeling alone. Things like being with someone and still feeling alone.”

– M.W Poetry 

“I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.”

“I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.” 

– Robin Williams 

“When you're surrounded by all these people, it can be lonelier than when you're by yourself. You can be in a huge crowd, but if you don't feel like you can trust anyone or talk to anybody, you feel like you're really alone.”

“When you’re surrounded by all these people, it can be lonelier than when you’re by yourself. You can be in a huge crowd, but if you don’t feel like you can trust anyone or talk to anybody, you feel like you’re really alone.”

― Fiona Apple

Quotes That Say It’s Okay to Be Alone

Loneliness can come and go at any time in your life; what you have to always remember is that loneliness is temporary.

You don’t have to be sunshine and smiles all the time. It’s okay to be alone too.

“Remember: the time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. Life’s cruelest irony.”

“The time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. Life’s cruelest irony.” 

― Douglas Coupland

“My imagination makes me human and makes me a fool; it gives me all the world and exiles me from it.”

“My imagination makes me human and makes me a fool; it gives me all the world and exiles me from it.”

― Ursula K. Le Guin

“It’s only natural to feel lonely after the enjoyable moments pass. But as you experience new joys those feelings of sorrow will start to fade.”

“It’s only natural to feel lonely after the enjoyable moments pass. But as you experience new joys those feelings of sorrow will start to fade.”

― Mizu Sahara

Quotes to Fill the Silence

When you feel like the loneliness is becoming too much for you or you feel like you want to give up, turn to the quotes below, and let the words fill your mind!

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” 

― Maya Angelou

“I had already found that it was not good to be alone, and so made companionship with what there was around me, sometimes with the universe and sometimes with my own insignificant self; but my books were always my friends, let fail all else.”

“I had already found that it was not good to be alone, and so made companionship with what there was around me, sometimes with the universe and sometimes with my own insignificant self; but my books were always my friends, let fail all else.”

– Joshua Slocum

“She understood how a world jammed with phones, email, and faxes could still leave you feeling utterly alone.”

“She understood how a world jammed with phones, email, and faxes could still leave you feeling utterly alone.”

― Jodi Picoult

“Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow.” 

― Janet Fitch

“The worst thing about loneliness is that it brings one face to face with oneself.”

“The worst thing about loneliness is that it brings one face to face with oneself.”

― Mary Balogh

“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

― Kurt Vonnegut

“Some nights are made for torture, or reflection, or the savoring of loneliness.”

― Poppy Z. Brite

“If you learn to really sit with loneliness and embrace it for the gift that it is… an opportunity to get to know you, to learn how strong you really are, to depend on no one but you for your happiness… you will realize that a little loneliness goes a long way in creating a richer, deeper, more vibrant and colorful you.”

“If you learn to really sit with loneliness and embrace it for the gift that it is… an opportunity to get to know you, to learn how strong you really are, to depend on no one but you for your happiness… you will realize that a little loneliness goes a long way in creating a richer, deeper, more vibrant and colorful you.”

– Mandy Hal

What are some of your favorite quotes to capture feeling alone? Feel free to share your favorites, or ask for ones others like, anonymously at Supportiv.