Sayings

No man is an island

This page is about the saying "No man is an island"

Possible meaning:
Human beings do not (or should not) live in isolation. All people are interconnected. A person is not like an island, standing alone and surrounded by sea.

Note:
island (noun) = a piece of land surrounded by water

Origin: This famous idea comes to us from Meditation XVII by John Donne (1572-1631): "No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

Quick Quiz

"No man is an island" is a saying suggesting that we

a. should not live on islands

b. are responsible for each other

c. are responsible only for ourselves
a) should not live on islands b) are responsible for each other c) are responsible only for ourselves

See Saying of the Day today

Contributor: Josef Essberger