Quotes and anectdotes from the wise to the foolish, and the courageous to the drunk

Emile M. Cioran Philosopher

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: Romania
  • Born: Apr 8, 1911
  • Died: Jun 20, 1995

Emil M. Cioran was a Romanian philosopher and essayist, who published works in both Romanian and French. Cioran was born in Rășinari, Sibiu County, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. His first French book, A Short History of Decay, was awarded the prestigious Rivarol Prize in 1950. It was the only book for which he accepted an award given to him, claiming that it would have been insolent of him to refuse it. The Latin Quarter of Paris was his permanent residence and he lived much of his life in isolation with his partner Simone Boué.

Isn't history ultimately the result of our fear of boredom? fear & history

Crime in full glory consolidates authority by the sacred fear it inspires. fear

Jealousy - that jumble of secret worship and ostensible aversion. jealousy

To Live signifies to believe and hope - to lie and to lie to oneself. hope

No one can enjoy freedom without trembling. freedom

The fear of being deceived is the vulgar version of the quest for Truth. fear & truth

What surrounds us we endure better for giving it a name - and moving on. moving on

Woes and wonders of Power, that tonic hell, synthesis of poison and panacea. power

Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness. happiness & music

For you who no longer posses it, freedom is everything, for us who do, it is merely an illusion. freedom

The desire to die was my one and only concern to it I have sacrificed everything, even death. death

We would not be interested in human beings if we did not have the hope of someday meeting someone worse off than ourselves. hope

Intelligence flourishes only in the ages when belief withers. intelligence

To act is to anchor in an imminent future, so imminent it becomes almost tangible to act is to feel you are consubstantial with that future. future

Life is possible only by the deficiencies of our imagination and memory. imagination

Society is not a disease, it is a disaster. What a stupid miracle that one can live in it. society

Life inspires more dread than death - it is life which is the great unknown. death

What does the future, that half of time, matter to the man who is infatuated with eternity? future