"Life creates itself in delirium and is undone in ennui"
- Emile M. Cioran
About this Quote
This quote by Emile M. Cioran talks to the idea that life is a cycle of development and damage. Life is developed in a state of delirium, a state of extreme emotion and enthusiasm. This delirium is the source of life's energy and imagination, allowing us to create and experience new things. However, this energy is not sustainable and eventually vanishes, causing a state of ennui, or boredom. This ennui is the undoing of life, as it leads to stagnancy and an absence of inspiration. This quote is a suggestion that life is a cycle of creation and damage, and that we must welcome both the highs and lows of life in order to truly experience it. We need to aim to discover a balance in between delirium and ennui, and utilize both to our advantage.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"