more from E.M. Cioran

Single Idea 19606

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 3. Angst]

Full Idea

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

Gist of Idea

We can only live because our imagination and memory are poor

Source

E.M. Cioran (A Short History of Decay [1949], 1 'The Key')

Book Reference

Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.28


A Reaction

Does this mean that we should actually aspire to limit our imaginations and memories? Or are we mercifully intrinsically limited, so that massive intellectual ambition will do no harm? We should be told these things, Cioran!