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
The desire to die was my one and only concern; to it I have sacrificed everything, even death.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a profound struggle with the desire to escape life's suffering, prioritizing that desire above all else.
Emile M. Cioran's quote delves into the depths of existential despair, illustrating how an overwhelming wish to end one's own life can dominate one's thoughts and decisions. The stark contrast between the desire for death and the act of living underscores a profound conflict, indicating that this internal battle can lead one to make extreme sacrifices, even forsaking the very act of living itself. Cioranβs words provoke contemplation on the nature of suffering, existence, and the human condition.
Themes
DespairExistentialismSufferingSacrificeLife
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about mental health awareness and the extremes of emotional suffering.
More from Emile M. Cioran
All quotes βWe are afraid of the enormity of the possible.
Emile M. CioranRead
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.
Emile M. CioranRead
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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