One's need for loneliness is not satisfied if one sits at a table alone. There must be empty chairs as well.

Summary

This quote implies that true solitude is not merely being physically alone but also having the absence of others around. Sitting alone at a table does not fulfill the need for solitude, as it highlights the emptiness and longing for others' presence. The empty chairs symbolize the desired disconnection from the presence of others and the encompassing silence that accompanies real solitude. The quote conveys the idea that fulfillment in solitude comes from the absence of others, rather than simply being by oneself.

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