I am not surprised that people are bored when they are alone; they cannot laugh when they are alone, for such a thing seems foolish to them. Is laughter, then, to be regarded as merely a signal for others, a mere sign, like a word? It is a want of imagination and dullness of mind generally as Theophrastus puts it, that prevents people from laughing when they are alone. The lower animals neither laugh when they are alone nor in company.
Nyson, the misanthropist, was surprised as he was laughing to himself by one of these people, who asked him why he laughed when he was alone. “That is just why I was laughing,” was the answer.
Arthur Schopenhauer. From Dircks’s translation of Essays of Schopenhauer.
Biblioklept 
Reblogged this on spiritandanimal.wordpress.com.
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I like the notion of taking some of my own solitude into society, its rather like wearing a comfortable cocoon. I agree with Arthur Schopenhaur that It is possible and agreeable to laugh alone, I often watch a comedy show at home on my television (with the cats, but they don’t often see the joke) I find I am laughing. I often go to see stand up comedians. Initially I felt self conscious to be laughing with no companion to share the joke with but I soon got over that and now have a great time.
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As I descend further and further into solitude and hermitage I find myself laughing alone more often and it’s always a pleasant reminder of my being alive.
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