āFor we are so constituted by nature, that we are ever prone to compare ourselves with others; and our happiness or misery depends very much on the objects and persons around us. On this account, nothing is more dangerous than solitudeā Goethe, Sorrows of Young Werther, 40).
Werther is writing to Wilhelmā he has just arrived at the Princeās estate.
I found it interesting that Werther noted the human tendency of comparison. For some reason, I have always associated this notion with modern-day society, but never considered that, although earlier societies did not have social media or platforms that constitute comparison, it is a universal trait all humans, regardless of time period, exhibit. It was a neat thought process for me, because I then considered how humans are all connected by our inner tendencies, desires, and decisions. We share similarities in our responses to life circumstances and to the people around us, even if separated by time and social standing. Additionally, I found the commentary on the dangers of solitude to be aptly timed. In this very strange reality of isolation and social distancing, it is comforting to know that at the basic level, we are all connected, even if it is by negative tendencies.
