Jean Genet Quotes

One can be instructed in society, one is inspired only in solitude.

The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude.

The greater the spirit, the more one is alone.

Solitude is the one place where we can gain freedom from the forces of society that will otherwise relentlessly mold us. Solitude requires relentless perseverance.

Only he knew that to be left alone is not always to be forsaken.

It's only when you're alone that you realize where you are. You have nothing to fall back on except your own resources.

Solitude, though it may be silent as light, is like light, the mightiest of agencies; for solitude is essential to man. All men come into this world alone and leave it alone.

Sometimes I think I should have chosen a line of work where it was just me alone in the room, with the sun coming in, and God, insofar as he or she exists, smiling down upon me. Then I would have never been accused of being a tyrant, other than towards myself.

When everything is lonely I can be my best friend.

Solitude is a breeding ground for idiosyncrasy, and I relish that about it, the way it liberates whim.

I was never less alone than when by myself.

I feel calm when I'm on my own.

I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original.

I think alone time is good to know how to be alone with your own thoughts. I think it just helps you kind of be a better, more grounded person.

I do say all I've ever written about is being alone. And most people take that as, 'Oh, that's so sad.' And I always say, 'No. No, all I ever write about is being alone, and sometimes that's a beautiful, beautiful thing.'

I kind of crave loneliness.

I like the idea of isolation. I like the reality of it. You realize what you are... not that the knowledge is inevitably rewarding.

I've always been alone. I grew up alone. I like it that way. Even when I'm in an arena surrounded by 10,000 people, I'm alone in my head.

My 'aloneness' is extremely valuable to me.

Yes, I do seek solitude, but I am never lonely.

Everybody is their own galaxy, their own separate entity.

You discover who you truly are only when you live alone.

When we are away from home, our only constant companion is our self.

All great and precious things are lonely.

There might be some hours of loneliness. But there was something wonderful even in loneliness. At least you belonged to yourself when you were lonely.