A House Is Not A Home.

Taken at face value, the line distinguishes between a physical dwelling (“house”) and the emotional, social, and moral meanings people attach to it (“home”). In Adler’s case—often associated with the world of rented rooms, transient arrangements, and spaces used for commerce as much as comfort—the aphorism can be read as a pointed reminder that shelter and domesticity are not the same thing. A “home” implies belonging, safety, and mutual care; a “house” can remain merely an address, even when furnished or outwardly respectable. The statement also carries an implicit critique of appearances: a well-appointed interior may conceal loneliness, exploitation, or instability.