Persuasion is chock-full of top-notch lines, and this is one of them:
Her spirits wanted the solitude and silence which only numbers could give.
–Persuasion, chapter 10
The "numbers" refers to a number of people, aka a group. Here, Anne wants to be in a group of people because, ironically, that will allow her to feel alone. Isn't that such a relatable and wise though unexpected sentiment? To me, it means that when we are in a group we can disappear and be more alone and unbothered by noise, in some ways, than if we were actually alone, where our thoughts would bombard us with their inescapable presence. It's sad but beautiful, and it speaks so much about Anne's perceptiveness and emotional intelligence to recognize this seemingly contradictory need within herself.
