“…a decision to avoid people shouldn’t imply that one has no desire whatever for company. It may simply reflect a dissatisfaction with what is available. Cynics are only idealists with awkwardly high standards. In Chamfort’s words: ‘It is sometimes said of a man who lives alone that he does not like society. This is like saying of a man that he does not like going for walks because he is not fond of walking at night in the forét de Bondy.’

— Alain de Botton, [easyazon_link identifier=”0375725350″ locale=”US” tag=”wells01-20″]Status Anxiety[/easyazon_link]