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
To want fame is to prefer dying scorned than forgotten.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Desiring fame can lead one to prioritize their legacy over living with humility.
This quote highlights the inherent conflict between the desire for fame and the human aversion to being forgotten. It suggests that a pursuit of fame may drive individuals to internalize the idea that they would rather be remembered negatively than be entirely erased from memory, emphasizing the value society places on recognition, even when it comes with scorn.
Themes
FameLegacyMemoryScornForgotten
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the impact of social media on self-image, this quote serves to underscore the lengths individuals will go to for recognition.
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.
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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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