Part 6/11:
The struggle of intelligent individuals often lies in the paradox that solitude can both liberate and imprison. Schopenhauer recognized the substantial weight of isolation, suggesting that while solitude provides a refuge for thought, it can also lead to despair. For instance, Tesla's near-complete isolation, while fostering rich inventiveness, also left him penniless and forgotten, speaking only to pigeons in his later years. Similarly, Nietzsche suffered from mental illness and profound loneliness, while even Newton's genius rendered him distant and cold in personal relationships.