Why you won’t create anything of worth in isolation.

“No man is an island.” — John Donne.

Creativity often begins in solitude. A writer retreats to a quiet space to craft words, an artist locks themselves away to paint, and a thinker spends long hours alone, lost in contemplation. Many of the world’s greatest works were born in moments of deep focus, away from the noise of daily life.

But while isolation is helpful for thinking, actual creation — something of worth, something that lasts — requires connection.

No great work is created in a vacuum. Ideas need friction, challenge, refinement, and feedback. Without external input, creativity risks becoming repetitive, self-indulgent, or limited by personal blind spots.

The image of the lone genius has been romanticised, with Beethoven composing in silence, Van Gogh painting in exile, and Einstein working alone late into the night. These figures are often portrayed as solitary visionaries who produce masterpieces by shutting out the world. But the truth is more complex.

Beethoven did not work in complete isolation. He studied under Joseph Haydn, engaged in debates with fellow musicians, and responded to the styles and expectations of his time. Van Gogh, despite his struggles with solitude, constantly exchanged letters with his brother Theo, seeking advice and encouragement. Einstein’s ideas, though formed in deep thought, were refined through discussions with fellow physicists.