Quote by Sebastian Roch Nicolas Chamfort
It is said of a lonely man that he does not appreciate the life of society. This is like saying he hates hiking because he dislikes walking in thick forest on a dark night.
Summary
This quote suggests that calling a person lonely because they don't appreciate socializing is similar to accusing someone of hating hiking simply because they dislike walking in a challenging environment. In other words, it implies that people shouldn't jump to conclusions about someone's preferences based on their disinterest in a particular aspect of an experience. Just as someone may dislike a specific aspect of hiking but still enjoy other parts, a lonely individual may have their own unique way of appreciating life that doesn't involve extensive social interaction.