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Emile M. Cioran Quotes

Philosopher

Emile M. Cioran was a Romanian-born French philosopher known for his pessimistic and existentialist views. His works deeply explored the essence of human existence, suffering, and nihilism.

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All Men Ifs World Dies Existence Ideas Moments Suffering Mind Feels People Humans Should Solitude Thinking Way Born Long Madness Needs

Famous Emile M. Cioran Quotes

“I feel completely detached from any country, any group. I am a metaphysically displaced person”

Feels Persons Country Groups Detached

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“All people see fires, storms, explosions, or landscapes; but how many feel the flames, the lightnings, the whirlwinds, or the harmony? How many have an inner beauty that tinges their melancholy?”

People Feels Fire Harmony Storm Landscape Flames Melancholy Lightning Inner Beauty Explosions

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“I try--without success--to stop finding reasons for vanity in anything. When I happen to manage it nonetheless, I feel that I no longer belong to the mortal gang. I am above everything then, above the gods themselves. Perhaps that is what death is: a sensation of great, of extreme superiority.”

Feels Trying Reason Happens Findings Extremes Manage Mortals Vanity Sensations Superiority Gang

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Nostalgia, more than anything, gives us the shudder of our own imperfection. This is why with Chopin we feel so little like gods.”

Giving Feels Littles Nostalgia Imperfection

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“How important can it be that I suffer and think? My presence in this world will disturb a few tranquil lives and will unsettle the unconscious and pleasant naiveté of others. Although I feel that my tragedy is the greatest in history - greater than the fall of empires - I am nevertheless aware of my total insignificance. I am absolutely persuaded that I am nothing in this universe; yet I feel that mine is the only real existence.”

Thinking World Feels Important Real Suffering Fall Universe Existence Greater This World Mines Tragedy Pleasant Unconscious Empires Nevertheless Tranquil Insignificance

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Revenge is not always sweet, once it is consummated we feel inferior to our victim.”

Feels Sweet Victim Revenge Inferiors Best Revenge Exacting Revenge Revenge Is Sweet

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Speech and silence. We feel safer with a madman who talks than with one who cannot open his mouth.”

Feels Silence Speech Mouths Madmen

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Imaginary pains are by far the most real we suffer, since we feel a constant need for them and invent them because there is no way of doing without them.”

Way Needs Feels Real Pain Suffering Constant Imaginary

Book:The Trouble with Being Born

Source: The Trouble with Being Born

“To act is to anchor in an imminent future, so imminent it becomes almost tangible; to act is to feel you are consubstantial with that future.”

Feels Tangible Anchors

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Thinking should be like musical meditation. Has any philosopher pursued a thought to its limits the way Bach or Beethoven develop and exhaust a musical theme? Even after having read the most profound thinkers, one still feels the need to begin anew. Only music gives definitive answers.”

Thinking Way Needs Giving Feels Should Stills Answers Music Meditation Limits Profound Musical Philosopher Theme Thinker Pursued

Author:Emile M. Cioran

About the Author

Born: April 8, 1911
Died: June 20, 1995
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 372

Books & Sources

The Trouble with Being BornRelated source material

A short history of decayRelated source material

All Gall is Divided: Gnomes and ApothegmsRelated source material

The fall into timeRelated source material

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