There's something to be said in favor of working in isolation in

The poet A. R. Ammons, a voice attuned to the stillness of nature and the mysteries of being, once said: “There’s something to be said in favor of working in isolation in the real world.” In this reflection lies the ancient wisdom of solitude—that true work is often born not in noise and clamor, but in silence and seclusion. For the real world reveals its secrets only to those who step apart from distraction and listen with patience to its hidden rhythms.

The ancients revered isolation as a sacred teacher. Prophets sought deserts, philosophers withdrew to gardens, poets climbed mountains to hear the voice of eternity. In these places of solitude, unburdened by the chatter of men, they discovered truths that shaped civilizations. Ammons, too, honors this tradition, reminding us that the labor done in stillness is not less real, but more deeply connected to the pulse of existence.

To work in isolation is to face the self without disguise. There, no audience praises or condemns, no distraction shields one from doubt or discipline. The laborer must confront his own weakness, his own perseverance, his own vision. And yet, out of this crucible, creation emerges—honest, unadorned, and strong. Such work bears the purity of truth, untouched by vanity, sharpened by silence.

But Ammons speaks not of isolation alone—he ties it to the real world. For solitude must not become escape or illusion. It must remain grounded in the soil, in the air, in the shared struggles of humanity. To withdraw is not to abandon life, but to see it more clearly, to bring back from the silence wisdom that can serve others. Thus, the poet affirms that solitude, when wedded to reality, becomes fertile ground for true creation.

Let the generations remember: there is strength in fellowship, but also holiness in solitude. Do not fear the path of isolation, for it is there that the spirit deepens, the craft sharpens, and the voice of truth grows strong. As Ammons teaches, the real world reveals itself most clearly not when we are surrounded by noise, but when we dare to stand apart, to labor in silence, and to return with treasures unseen by others.