"We're all in this alone"
About this Quote
Tomlin's intent isn't nihilism so much as deflation. She takes the language of comfort and shows the fine print. The "we" acknowledges a shared condition - anxiety, aging, work, grief, the daily negotiation of identity - but the "alone" exposes the private, untransferable part of experiencing any of it. No one can take your pain, your choices, your consequences. Even love, in this framing, is companionship without rescue.
The subtext is social critique delivered with comedian's efficiency. In an era of self-help optimism, corporate "family" talk, and later the glossy community promises of social media, Tomlin's line calls out the gap between collective rhetoric and individual reality. It's also an actor's wisdom: onstage or off, you can be in a crowded room and still be the only one inside your head.
The line works because it offers recognition without comfort. It doesn't ask you to despair; it dares you to be honest.
Quote Details
| Topic | Loneliness |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Tomlin, Lily. (2026, January 17). We're all in this alone. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/were-all-in-this-alone-34124/
Chicago Style
Tomlin, Lily. "We're all in this alone." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/were-all-in-this-alone-34124/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"We're all in this alone." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/were-all-in-this-alone-34124/. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.











