20 Emil Cioran Quotes From the Pessimistic Philosopher

Enjoy these Emil Cioran quotes from the Romanian philosopher and essayist.

Emil Cioran was a Romanian philosopher best known for his pessimistic nature and beliefs that show through his written word.

Cioran’s father was a priest, and his mother led the Christian Women’s League.

However, Cioran became an agnostic when he was grown.

Many of his beliefs were about suffering and the pointlessness of existence.

It’s said that he was so pessimistic that his mother once told him she would have “aborted him” had she known he would be like that.

Cioran studied in Berlin on scholarship, where he began to study the Nazi regime, going so far as to call himself a “Hitlerist” in a letter.

Cioran was also supportive of Italian fascism.

Below is our collection of insightful Emil Cioran quotes.

If you enjoy this article, check out our collection of Aldous Huxley quotes from the philosopher.

Pessimistic Emil Cioran quotes

1. “Man starts over again every day, in spite of all he knows, against all he knows.” – Emil Cioran

2. “I may find myself alone. But am I not already alone in this world from which I no longer expect anything.” – Emil Cioran

3. “What would be left of our tragedies if an insect were to present us his?” – Emil Cioran

4. “One does not inhabit a country; one inhabits a language. That is our country, our fatherland—and no other.” – Emil Cioran

5. “We are afraid of the enormity of the possible.” – Emil Cioran

6. “An author who doesn’t push you down; only causes you to feel less lonely with your desolation.” – Emil Cioran

7. “Since all life is futility, then the decision to exist must be the most irrational of all.” – Emil Cioran

8. “Tears do not burn except in solitude.” – Emil Cioran

9. “Consciousness is nature’s nightmare.” – Emil Cioran

10. “The Universal view melts things into a blur.” – Emil Cioran

Emil Cioran quotes and sayings

11. “The fact that life has no meaning is a reason to live – moreover, the only one.” – Emil Cioran

12. “True confessions are written with tears only. But my tears would drown the world, as my inner fire would reduce it to ashes.” – Emil Cioran

13. “I feel completely detached from any country, any group. I am a metaphysically displaced person.” – Emil Cioran

14. “There is no limit to suffering.” – Emil Cioran

15. “Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness.” – Emil Cioran

16. “The sole means of protecting your solitude is to offend everyone, beginning with those you love.” – Emil Cioran

17. “If we could see ourselves as others see us, we would vanish on the spot.” – Emil Cioran

18. “No one recovers from the disease of being born, a deadly wound if there ever was one.” – Emil Cioran

19. “We cannot be normal and alive at the same time.” – Emil Cioran

20. “Write books only if you are going to say in them the things you would never dare confide to anyone.” – Emil Cioran

What did you learn from these Emil Cioran quotes?

Emil Cioran was a supporter of the Iron Guard, going as far as praising them in a public speech for “having given Romanians a purpose.”

However, later in life, he regretted his support of it.

Cioran was known for his use of aphorisms.

He viewed them as “momentary truths” and didn’t mind when his words contradicted each other.

He was also entertained by the idea of suicide and believed the thought of it was enough to make one want to go on living.

He explored this further in his writings On the Heights of Despair and The New Gods.

Some of Cioran’s works were banned under Nicolae Ceausescu, with another banned in 1974 by Francoist Spain.

What’s your biggest takeaway from these Emil Cioran quotes and sayings?