The premonition of madness is complicated by the fear of lucidity in madness, the fear of the moments of return and reunion... One would welcome chaos if one were not afraid of lights in it.
Emile M. CioranRead
As art sinks into paralysis, artists multiply. This anomaly ceases to be one if we realize that art, on its way to exhaustion, has become both impossible and easy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
As art progresses, the quality may decline while the number of creators increases, revealing a paradox in artistic expression.
Emile M. Cioran reflects on the paradox of contemporary art, suggesting that as the field becomes saturated, the true essence of creativity is lost, resulting in a surge of artists who may struggle with the depth and meaning of their work. This observation underscores a disconnect between the abundance of creators and the exhaustion of innovative expression, highlighting the challenge of maintaining artistry amidst a plethora of new voices.
Themes
ArtCreativitySaturationQualityExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the state of modern art, an artist could say, 'As Emile M. Cioran noted, as art sinks into paralysis, artists multiply.'
More from Emile M. Cioran
All quotes βWe are afraid of the enormity of the possible.
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There was a time when time did not yet exist. β¦ The rejection of birth is nothing but the nostalgia for this time before time.
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A marvel that has nothing to offer, democracy is at once a nation's paradise and its tomb.
Emile M. CioranRead
Paradise was unendurable, otherwise the first man would have adapted to it; this world is no less so, since here we regret paradise or anticipate another one. What to do? Where to go? Do nothing and go nowhere, easy enough.
Emile M. CioranRead
It is not worth the bother of killing yourself, since you always kill yourself too late.
Emile M. CioranRead
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