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
A sudden silence in the middle of a conversation suddenly brings us back to essentials: it reveals how dearly we must pay for the invention of speech.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the value of silence amidst conversation and the heavy cost of our ability to speak.
Emile M. Cioran reflects on the paradox of speech, where amidst continuous dialogue, a sudden silence forces us to confront the fundamental truths that lie beneath words. It suggests that while language is a powerful tool for communication, it can also distract us from essential insights and the deeper realities of human existence; thus, silence serves as a critical reminder of the weight and responsibility that comes with our ability to articulate thoughts and feelings.
Themes
SilenceSpeechCommunicationTruthReflection
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation session, I used this quote to emphasize the importance of silence.
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.
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It is not worth the bother of killing yourself, since you always kill yourself too late.
Emile M. CioranRead
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