Only solitary men know the full joys of friendship. Others have their family; but to a solitary and an exile, his friends are everything.
Willa Cather
The title “The Ultimate Bliss of Friendship: Embracing Solitude and Connection” highlights the value of friendship for those who are solitary or living away from family. The content explains that friends become a source of joy, comfort, and companionship for individuals who are alone or separated from their families. It emphasizes that friendships can be even more fulfilling than family relationships because they are chosen out of love, sharing, respect, and need. Overall, the quote “Only solitary men know the full joys of friendship. Others have their family; but to a solitary and an exile, his friends are everything” holds true in appreciating the significance of friends in our lives.
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Meaning of Quote – Only solitary men know the full joys of friendship. Others have their family; but to a solitary and an exile, his friends are everything.
“Only solitary men know the full joys of friendship. Others have their family; but to a solitary and an exile, his friends are everything.” This quote absolutely hits home for many people around the world. It speaks volumes about the value of friends, especially for those who are solitary or living away from their families.
To fully understand this quote, let’s break it down. Starting with “only solitary men know the full joys of friendship.” At first glance, it may seem like it’s saying only lonely people know what it’s like to have friends. But that’s not exactly it. Solitary here doesn’t necessarily mean lonely, it refers to being alone, without the constant companionship of family.
Imagine being an only child in a new city, with no cousins or close family around. The only people you see regularly are your classmates and teachers in school. Over time, these classmates become more than just faces you see during your lessons. They become people you laugh with, share secrets with, and depend on when you need help. They become your friends, and because you don’t have any family around, they fill that void for you. They bring you joy, comfort, and companionship?things that families typically provide.
This sentiment extends to the second part of the quote as well?”Others have their family; but to a solitary and an exile, his friends are everything.” This part emphasizes more on individuals who are temporarily or permanently separated from their families. An exile is someone who has been banished or forced to leave their home. This could be because of various life situations such as a new job in a different city, pursuing further education, political instability, or personal choice.
Life away from the comfort and familiarity of home can be pretty scary and lonely. The things you took for granted?your mom’s cooking, playing catch with your dad, annoying your siblings?all of those are no longer a part of your daily life. But then, in this new place void of familiar faces, you make friends. They make the unfamiliar less scary. They introduce you to their way of life, their culture, their food, and soon enough, the strange city starts feeling less strange. These friends become everything to you – they’re your family away from family, and sometimes, they feel even more like family because they accept you for who you are.
Additionally, friends are the family we choose, and sometimes, it turns out to be a better family than our real one. Friends are there when we are in need; they are cheering us up, advising us, arguing with us, bonding with us over shared experiences and secret jokes. Your friends understand your goals because they are most likely your age and share the same tasks and challenges. So, to a solitary and an exile, friends offer comfort and fraternity that helps the new city feel like home, making them a substitute for everything that family usually is.
Now, none of this is to say that those with families can’t appreciate their friends. Of course, they can! They can value their friendships and take joy in them. But the quote underscores is there’s a unique kind of reliance and appreciation that develops when friends are all you have. When the safety net of family isn’t there, friendships often become stronger, deeper, and more intimately felt.
In conclusion, whether you are solitary by choice or a situation, or an exile by force or decision, your friends indeed become everything to you. They replace the joy and comfort that family usually provides. They fill the holes and gaps left by family. They become your chosen family, and sometimes the joys of this chosen family can be much more fulfilling because they were chosen out of love, sharing, respect, and need, not just born out of blood relation. Therefore, the quote “Only solitary men know the full joys of friendship. Others have their family; but to a solitary and an exile, his friends are everything.” reigns true.
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