"With some people solitariness is an escape not from others but from themselves. For they see in the eyes of others only a reflection of themselves"

This quote by Eric Hoffer talks to the idea that some individuals use solitariness as a method to prevent facing themselves. They might be uncomfortable with their own thoughts and feelings, and so they select to be alone in order to avoid facing them. By avoiding others, they are also avoiding the reflection of themselves that they may see in the eyes of others. This could be a reflection of their own insecurities, flaws, or errors. It is a method of preventing the reality about themselves that they may not be all set to deal with. In this way, solitariness can be a type of self-protection, a method of avoiding the challenging realities that might be revealed in the eyes of others.