Extrovert thoughts about solitude?

[dark+matters]

A quote like this one by Arthur Schopenhauer is one I relate to immediately as an introvert:

"A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free."

But is this a sentiment that extroverts can relate to as well?

 

[StevenM]

I've been trying to tell people that for so long, it's almost made me crazy. It's been very hard for me to make people IRL (and with direct influence) understand that. While they are with effort trying to convince me that it is sick to withdraw myself, I'm busy with effort trying to convince them that I need more solitude, not less.

Alone time is indeed a very precious commodity.

Extroverts -> not all of them. Putting aside the introvert-extrovert dichotomy, I know of at least one person who can't function like herself unless she is with other people. When alone, she is truly imprisoned, and constrained from her natural abilities.

I guess solitude is not for everyone. Yet neither is it's opposite.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

"A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free."

Well I can't agree with this.
One is oneself in every situation. Even one's reactions to others and their influence is a measure of being oneself.

It's kind of unusual coming from Schopenhauer since I'd have much rather thought of him saying that not being oneself in any situation imaginable is a sign of weakness and personal degeneration/dissolution.

Based on the whole experience of my interaction with people I've come to a conclusion that I'm extroverted. Even posting on this forum is quite extroverted, since introverts wouldn't go so far with posting hundreds or thousands of messages. Introverted reactions are quite different, sometimes it's necessary to drag out and push them to even get them to react. Generally not my cup of tea.

I'm fine being alone most of the time, I'm usually not active in the conversation, unless it's one on one, although I need others for their richness and newness that they can bring to my world, as well as the overall energy we can share in the process.

 

[The Gopher]

"A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free."

Can't relate to that. I mean sure, in certain environments I limit myself as to not destroy those around me with awesome power however (when I'm not acting/playing devils advocate{which is also me technically} I am completely me/free)

That said I am always free even in those environments. I am freely limiting myself. Freedom exists however it is not what most imagine freedom is. A lot of people imagine freedom as not being restrained and they project others as restraining them however they are really restraining themselves for others. (My English is failing me here but hopefully this makes sense)

Of course they are free to restrain themselves for others... To put it another way freedom is not "being comfortable" nor is it being happy or even "feeling free". Assuming you aren't imprisoned or enslaved the only thing stopping you from having freedom is yourself. Of course you may be stopping yourself from having freedom due to having freedom taken away from you if you do. (both meanings) Although since that is your choice you're still free despite being influenced that way.

So basically all I meant to say was I'm an extrovert who likes saying stuff he knows nothing about for fun.

 

[Yellow]

It rings true for me, but I can't see it working for most extroverts. Maybe ENFPs because they often think of themselves as introverts.

 

[Architect]

Maybe ENFPs because they often think of themselves as introverts.

Astute - yes they do frequently. Comes from being NF's which gives them an introspective bent, and a need for downtime greater than say a ES. I haven't met an ENFP yet who doesn't identify as a INFP.