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" Now, those moments are being erased. With smartphone in hand, connectivity is continuous. We’re in a crowd even when we’re by ourselves. The chatter never ends; the rhythm never slows. Nonstop networking may feel invigorating, but, as Harris makes clear, we sacrifice much when we’re never alone. Solitude is refreshing. It strengthens memory, sharpens awareness, and spurs creativity. It makes us calmer, more attentive, clearer headed. Most important of all, it relieves the pressure of conformity. It gives us the space we need to discover the deepest sources of passion, enjoyment, and fulfillment in our lives. Being alone frees us to be ourselves—and that makes us better company when we rejoin the crowd. "
― Michael Harris , Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World
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" Then again, maybe it was the world that had changed; perhaps it no longer made allowances for solitude in the same way. Or perhaps, more likely, it was a combination of the two forces—my own growing older and the world’s self-tethering to online things. It had all changed, within and without, so that now, in a haze of social anxiety, I woke each morning thinking, “What did I miss?” and went to bed thinking, “What did I say? "
― Michael Harris , Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World