Is your friend starting to isolate themselves away from the group? If so, you could tell him that "no man is an island" to get him to change his behavior. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this proverb.
Meaning
The phrase "no man is an island" means that isolation is detrimental to a person's mental health. When we are alone, we start to develop changes to our mental state, and we can end up in severe mental distress if we don't talk to anyone.
An example is Tom Hank's character in "Castaway," where he remains isolated for years, with only a volleyball named Wilson to talk to. The situation degrades his mental health, leaving him scarred emotionally from his ordeal.
As communal beings, humans need the company of others to maintain a normal, healthy mental state. "no man is an island" is a reminder that we all need communication, collaboration, and relationships in our lives. Leaving yourself on a figurative island won't do you any favors and can ruin your mental health.
Example Usage
"Listen, Jim. I know you think this project is under control, but no man is an island. I think it's too much responsibility for you to handle alone, and I'm giving you some team members to help."
"Why are you insistent on shouldering all the responsibility yourself? Don't you know that no man is an island, and we all need someone we can rely on in life?"
"No man is an island, and if you don't get out once in a while to see other people, you're going to develop social anxiety that ruins your quality of life."
"He shouldn't have to do everything by himself. No man is an island, and he deserves some help."
Origin
The origin of the phrase, "no man is an island," comes from the author, John Donne. Donne used the term in his book, "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and Seuerall Steps in my Sickness - Meditation XVII," a collection of poems published in 1624.
"No man is an island entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main."
This idiomatic expression is Donne's most notable work and his biggest contribution to English.
Phrases Similar to No Man Is an Island
- You can't do it alone.
Phrases Opposite to No Man Is an Island
- You got this.
- You don't need any help.
What is the Correct Saying?
- No man is an island.
Ways People May Say No Man Is an Island Incorrectly
The phrase does not have anything to do with islands, and it can apply to men and women. Using the term usually means telling the person they should find help with what they are doing or thinking. Using the expression to describe that you're going to an island or thinking about living on an island is the incorrect use of the term.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase No Man Is an Island
You can use the expression, "no man is an island," when you're trying to explain that isolation will not do them or anyone else any good. It's likely to impact their mental health and force them into a bad place.
The phrase can refer to men and women. Usually, you'll be using this phrase when you're trying to cheer someone up. Or when you're trying to tell them that they shouldn't bear the responsibility of everything in the situation themselves. It's also a way to tell someone to consider asking for help.