We are all alone, born alone, die alone, 

and—in spite of True Romance magazines—we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way.

 not lonely—at least, not all the time

—but essentially, and finally, alone. 

This is what makes your self-respect so important,

  how  can you respect yourself if you must look in the hearts and minds of others for your happiness.