Who really said it
The sentence appears in Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf, in Basil Creighton’s 1929 English translation, page 48. It belongs to Harry Haller’s fictional reflections.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
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Verified quote & credit
“Solitude is independence” Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf, translated by Basil Creighton (1929), p. 48; Harry Haller’s fictional reflection.
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In context
Evoking the world of Hermann Hesse — German-born Swiss novelist. Theme: "Solitude is independence". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
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Provenance
Solitude is independence.
Steppenwolf: 1929 English textHow we verified this
The English edition checked is Basil Creighton’s 1929 translation, now in the United States public domain. This is not a claim that every later translation is public domain.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Context
Harry Haller has achieved the solitude he wanted, but the passage also registers his longing for human warmth. The sentence is therefore part of an uneasy account of freedom and loneliness, rather than an uncomplicated instruction to avoid other people.
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The title page credits Basil Creighton and 1929 Henry Holt copyright; page 48 contains the exact sentence and its fictional context.
Catalog identifies Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf and translator Basil Creighton; metadata, not independent proof of the quotation.
Sourced novel section reproduces the solitude paragraph.
Biographical reference records Hesse’s German birth, Swiss citizenship, major novels, and 1946 Nobel Prize.
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The author
For writers & researchers
Hesse, Hermann. Steppenwolf. Translated by Basil Creighton. New York: Henry Holt, 1929, p. 48.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Solitude is independence’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/solitude-is-independence/