I knew the two conditions were different—the latter has an unhappy connotation—but I could never explain exactly why. Until I read this quote, which brilliantly sums up how they differ.
Solitude is a condition of peace that stands in direct opposition to loneliness. Loneliness is like sitting in an empty room and being aware of the space around you. It is a condition of separateness. Solitude is becoming one with the space around you. It is a condition of union.
Condition of peace -- that's so well put. Solitude is what I long for when my mind is restless. In need of peace. Solitude makes me forget everything around me and become part of it. It doesn't matter if I am alone or surrounded by a crowd. On the other hand, I seek loneliness when I am aware of everything around me, and I want to separate myself from all of it.
Why would I want to feel lonely? At times, the path to peace and union leads through separation. Loneliness is essential for solitude in times like these.