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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

“All great ideas should be followed by an exclamation mark - a warning signal similar to the skull and crossbones drawn on high-voltage transformers.”

Should Ideas Mark Warning Signals Great Idea Skulls Exclamation Voltage Exclamation Marks

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“As far as I am concerned, I resign from humanity. I no longer want to be, nor can still be, a man. What should I do? Work for a social and political system, make a girl miserable? Hunt for weaknesses in philosophical systems, fight for moral and esthetic ideals? It’s all too little. I renounce my humanity even though I may find myself alone. But am I not already alone in this world from which I no longer expect anything?”

“Once you see that everything is unreal, you can't see why you should bother to prove it.”

Should Crazy Prove Mad Bother Unreal Prove It

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Impossible to spend sleepless nights and accomplish anything: if, in my youth, my parents had not financed my insomnias, I should surely have killed myself.”

Ifs Should Night Parent Impossible Youth Accomplish Insomnia Sleepless Nights

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“No one should forget: Eros alone can fulfill life; knowledge, never. Only Eros makes sense; knowledge is empty infinity; – for thoughts, there is always time; life has its time; there is no thought that comes too late; any desire can become a regret.”

Should Desire Forget Regret Late Empty Make Sense Too Late Infinity Eros

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“All philosophers should end their days at Pythia's feet. There is only one philosophy, that of unique moments.”

Should Ends Philosophy Moments Feet Unique Philosopher

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Ideas should be neutral. But man animates them with his passions and folly. Impure and turned into beliefs, they take on the appearance of reality. The passage from logic is consummated. Thus are born ideologies, doctrines, and bloody farce.”

Men Should Ideas Reality Passion Belief Born Logic Appearance Doctrine Ideology Folly Passages Bloody Farce

Author:Emile M. Cioran

“Every thought should recall the ruin of a smile.”

Should Ruins Recalls

Book:All Gall is Divided: Gnomes and Apothegms

Source: All Gall is Divided: Gnomes and Apothegms

“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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