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
Freedom can be manifested only in the void of beliefs, in the absence of axioms, and only where the laws have no more authority than a hypothesis.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True freedom exists when one is free from all beliefs and accepted truths.
Emile M. Cioran suggests that authentic freedom is achieved not through rigid beliefs or established truths, but in a space of questioning and skepticism where nothing is taken for granted. This perspective challenges the conventional understanding of authority and encourages individuals to explore beyond societal norms and constructs, emphasizing that freedom flourishes in the absence of dogma and preconceived notions.
Themes
FreedomBeliefsAxiomsAuthoritySkepticism
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a philosophical debate to illustrate the idea of freedom.
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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