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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

“Utopia is the grotesque en rose, the need to associate happiness - that is, the improbable - with becoming, and to coerce an optimistic, aerial vision to the point where it rejoins its own source: the very cynicism it sought to combat. In short, a monstrous fantasy.”

Needs Vision Fantasy Source Becoming Rose Optimistic Combat Cynicism Associates Utopia Monstrous Improbable Grotesque Coerce

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

“Torment, for some men, is a need, an appetite, and an accomplishment.”

Men Needs Accomplishment Torture Appetite Torment

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Negation is the mind's first freedom, yet a negative habit is fruitful only so long as we exert ourselves to overcome it, adapt it to our needs; once acquired it can imprison us.”

Needs Mind Firsts Long Freedom Habit Negative Overcoming Rejection Negation

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“When you have understood that nothing is, that things do not even deserve the status of appearances, you no longer need to be saved, you are saved, and miserable forever.”

Needs Forever Understood Deserve Salvation Appearance Saved Miserable

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“The need for novelty is the characteristic of an alienated gorilla.”

Needs Characteristics Novelty Gorillas

Book:The Trouble with Being Born

Source: The Trouble with Being Born

“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

“Much more than our other needs and endeavors, it is sexuality that puts us on an even footing with our kind: the more we practice it, the more we become like everyone else: it is in the performance of a reputedly bestial function that we prove our status as citizens: nothing is more public than the sexual act.”

Needs Kind Sex Practice Citizens Prove Performances Function Sexuality Endeavor Humankind

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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