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Single Idea 19615

[from 'A Short History of Decay' by E.M. Cioran, in 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / c. Reasons as causes ]

Full Idea

I want to suppress in myself the reasons men invoke in order to exist, in order to act.

Gist of Idea

I want to suppress in myself the normal reasons people have for action

Source

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

Book Reference

Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.44


A Reaction

So much of our inner and moral life concerns not what we think or feel, but what we want to think or feel. The theory of action (if there can be such a thing) must account for these metareasons, which hover over us while we act.