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Single Idea 19609

[from 'A Short History of Decay' by E.M. Cioran, in 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 4. Suicide ]

Full Idea

The man who has never imagined his own annihilation, who has not anticipated recourse to the rope, the bullet, poison, or the sea, is a degraded galley slave or a worm crawling upon the cosmic carrion.

Gist of Idea

If you have not contemplated suicide, you are a miserable worm

Source

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

Book Reference

Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.38


A Reaction

I guess by this date everyone in Paris had read Camus' 'The Myth of Sisyphus', so suicide was the main topic in the cafés. I sort of agree with it. The possibility of suicide is part of the examined life.

Related Idea

Idea 343 The unexamined life is not worth living for men [Socrates]