Whoever is interested in making the most of his life and doing the best for his character needs two things among several others: he needs time and he needs seclusion. The time may vary from a few minutes a day up to a couple of hours. Seclusion may be in an attic or in a forest. A third thing needed is silence. With these three conditions he can begin the very important inner work: first of reflection, second of thought-control. The time is needed to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of the world, from the triviality and futility of so much social life. It is a good thing to come out of that for a while every day, to be sequestered from society and make the effort to be in himself--that is, in his true self, his spiritual being. These few minutes of detachment from the world can become in time very valuable to him if he uses them in the right way.
-- Notebooks Category 2: Overview of Practices Involved > Chapter 8 : The Quest and Social Responsibility > # 34
