“Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is richness of self.”

May Sarton was the pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton (1912 – 1995), She was a prolific Belgian-American novelist and poet, with over 50 books published, including novels, poetry, nonfiction works, children's books, a play, and screenplays. Sarton taught at several colleges and universities, including Wellesley College and Harvard University. Her tombstone has a quote of her's : "I think my work is universal, and I think my value is as a maker of bridges ..."

From May Sarton's book Journal of a Solitude,