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 source of our actions resides in an unconscious propensity to regard ourselves as the center, the cause, and the conclusion of time. Our reflexes and our pride transform into a planet the parcel of flesh and consciousness we are.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that our actions stem from an unconscious belief in our own importance and centrality in existence.
Emile M. Cioran reflects on the human tendency to perceive ourselves as the pivotal point in our own narratives and the universe. This mindset influences our actions and thoughts, leading us to pride and ego, effectively turning our individual existence into a 'planet' that revolves around our self-perceived importance, often overshadowing the larger context of life and time.
Themes
SelfImportanceEgoExistencePerception
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about self-awareness during a mindfulness workshop.
More from Emile M. Cioran
All quotes →We are afraid of the enormity of the possible.
Emile M. CioranRead
There was a time when time did not yet exist. … 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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