a great city, a great solitude

proverb A reference to the intense loneliness that one can feel in a city, even while surrounded by people. I thought my depression would get better once I moved to the bustling city, but I actually feel worse. I guess it's true what they say—a great city, a great solitude. I know you think Paris is glamorous, but, once you move there, you might start experiencing the phenomenon of "a great city, a great solitude." Susan clearly doesn't believe in that notion of "a great city, a great solitude"—she has always loved living in the city.