Loneliness is most acutely felt with other people, for with others, even with a lover sometimes, we suffer from our differences of taste, temperament, mood. Human intercourse (交际) often demands that we soften the edge of perception, or withdraw at the very instant of personal truth for fear of hurting, or of being inappropriately present, which is to say naked, in a social situation. Alone we can afford to be wholly whatever we are, and to feel whatever we feel absolutely. That is a great luxury!

　　For me the most interesting thing about a solitary life, and mine has been that for the last twenty years, is that it becomes increasingly rewarding. When I can wake up and watch the sun rise over the ocean, as I do most days, and know that I have an entire day ahead, uninterrupted, in which to write a few pages, take a walk with my dog, lie down in the afternoon for a long think (why does one think better in a horizontal position?), read and listen to music, I am flooded with happiness.

　　译文：

　　独自一人，我们便可以随心所欲，考试中国感受真正的自我。那真是有些奢侈的享受！

　　我已独自生活了二十年。对我来说，独自生活最大意义在于它变得越来越有益。当早晨醒来，像往常一样看着旭日从海平面上冉冉升起，我知道后面有整整一天。在这一天里， 我可以不受打扰地写几页书，带着我的狗一起散散步，下午长时间地躺着想一些事情（为什么人躺着时能更好地思考？），读读书，听听音乐。想到这些，我便沉浸在幸福之中。