There's a friend of mine and he admits he not only takes pride, but enjoys despairing. I wish I could but I can't understand it. Maybe you could argue that there is something satisfying about facing the cold, hard truth of life's situation? That it is inherently meaningless? Rather than drawing on the positives of that deduction, that it empowers us to attach meaning to whatever we want, he clings to the negatives. Buy why would someone have a preference towards the negative implications of such a deduction? I dunno XD what do you think?
He didn't become a french citizen, he never asked for the french citizenship. The communists took his Romanian citizenship away so he lived as a stateless person in France.
Corneliu Z Codreanu if I got this right, he could’ve became a French citizen, but he didn’t cared to ask for it, so not that much stateless. And really? Zelea codreanu? What are you? A fascist?
For me Cioran was a huge revelation, I used to read him in the hallway of the university. everyone was around, a lot of noise, the laughs, the girls, the loneliness of not being alone by yourself.
JustAPink246 Maybe I'm not the most qualified person to recommend books, but I think that a good way to start in Cioran is his first book "in the highs of despair" or "history and utopia". But if you have the opportunity to read any of his work do it without hesitation.
Caffa Jake when we are alone, even with our thoughts we have company. Some idea came along, the remembrance of someone maybe, perhaps is the way to avoid to be with ourselves truly.
"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, On the Heights of Despair Frumos :D
Many would be scared of Cioran's thinking, his work being full of sadness, despair and death. I'm glad that you clarified this problem, his books being more like an anti-depressant and a release in the tumultuous, unsettled and uncertain reality in which we live. However, here is an interesting fact about Cioran and suicide! Emil Cioran was a great friend of the romanian-french playwright Eugen Ionescu (Eugène Ionesco, in french), whose work is a must-read, as well. Well, this guy was quite a friend of alcohol and despair. When Ionescu had a great depression crisis and wanted to kill himself, the one whom he called and convinced him not to do it was no other than Cioran. Nonetheless, both of those great geniuses of the 20th century had a heck of a long life, both reaching the age of 84 (Ionescu died in 1994, Cioran in 1995). Despair is the sickness unto death, as Kierkegaard once said. When we feel like suffering of this hard disease, we may call Cioran to help us as well. Congratulations, School of Life, on your channel and hard work, and thank you for bringing out a philosopher like Emil Cioran to a great audience's attention. Greetings from Romania!
I love Ionescu and Cioran, therefore I love Romania too! And one of my all time favourite films is Romanian as well, namely the death of Mr. Lazarescu. Greetings from Greece!
At the end of the day, I always feel like reading Cioran's. Always. Albeit pessimistic, I don't know but I find comfort in his writing. I thought to myself, "Have I gone mad?" I tried sharing my experience to a friend and he said that I am being miserable and depressing over trivial things that don't matter. I didn't say a word on the topic anymore, moved on, and vowed that I won't tell anyone about Cioran and his works, unless they "get it".
Cioran deserves to be known, more than now. He is a brilliant mind, and what happened to you with your friend regarding Cioran, it also happened to me. Te entiendo.
@@luisemmanuel3990 I don't think many people should know about Cioran. If only because it will turn into mass culture. A person should come to it himself, understand it himself, without other people's recommendations and help. Cioran would not be happy if many people understood and read him, there would be many impostors who thought that their fleeting sadness somehow coincided with what Cioran felt. And even more so, it is a crime to involve a person in such things(Cioran said that it is a crime to enlighten a person in the truth of life, since he can no longer be happy, a stupid person is a happy person).
My favorite quote by Cioran is, for him, a rather sunny one. At least, it reveals what he liked: "Bach is the only argument proving the creation of the universe cannot be regarded as a complete failure."
Hello there again Mephistopheles:-) Unfortunately I never got to like Cioran very much, but I only love this one thing he once said: " God owes a lot to J.S. Bach". If you wish to listen to one very beautiful piece by Bach, my favourite is this here: " Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben" ( The version with Herreweghe and Sybilla Rubens ) I hope you are doing well. Have a nice week:-)
Did not expect to see a Romanian Philosopher here. That aside, i find The School of Life as one of the most inspiring thing you could stumble upon on youtube. I wish you not to ever run out of ideas and amazing content
Radu-Constantin Anastase Not likely to run out of ideas :) But, Greek-romanian at that! After Epictetus was there any other notable from the Helen until Cioran??
Duff Clem he was not Greak, he was Romanian and become later a French citizen. his father was a Greak-Orhtodox priest. That does not make him Greak. Greak-Orthododox is the name of the Orhodox church used by westerners to discribe the Estern Christians.
He's always been a paradox to me. I remember how when I first came upon his works, I felt so comforted and at peace reading some pieces. Even though he's probably the darkest philosopher I know, he's so comforting.
I don't think is the same thing staying awake because you are doing an activity(reading/being on your phone) and staying awake because you are trapped with your thoughts (that'd be insomnia) so even if it were just a joke i just wanted to clarify that
"Having always lived in fear of being surprised by the worst, I have tried in every circumstance to get a head start, flinging myself into misfortune long before it could occur." How have I not heard of this man before?
As far as I am concerned, I resign from humanity. I no longer want to be, nor can still be, a man. What should I do? Work for a social and political system, make a girl miserable? Hunt for weaknesses in philosophical systems, fight for moral and aesthetic ideals? It’s all too little. I renounce my humanity even though I may find myself alone. But am I not already alone in this world from which I no longer expect anything? --Emil Cioran, On the Heights of Despair (1934) ALL HAIL CIORAN
Hey. I make short self improvement videos. Come watch them. Take what you want in life. My channel is here to help those who *want to change*. I'll help you see things in a simpler way. See ya there
Please make a video on Mircea Eliade! He's also a Romanian philosopher who wrote "The history of religious ideas" and other books mainly on the topic of religion and prophanity
I like that one a lot. When ppl ask me "when are u gonna have kids?" I immediately think of that one, but if I quote/say it I might be in trouble as those who ask me are parents already 😅
Forcing someone to exist in this cesspool of hate and violence really is a crime today. Only the very selfish would force someone else to exist here, especially a child. Before breeding, people should always give it a very deep thought as to whether they should breed. But alas, the selfishness will overcome many that should not breed for the sake of the unborn. So will enter another slave for the oligarchies, and the mega corporations, into existence to toil until their bitter end, completely unappreciated, unthanked, and unacknowledged.
Next time I have one of my totally unproductive days and someone asks-which they actually rarely do-what did you do today, I will answer, proudly, I endured myself. That made me laugh heartily.
Cioran is my favorite thinker. Also very underrated one, so I'm very excited about this video. I read his Cahiers like a bible, aphorisms for every day.
"Ordinary people seem not to realize that those who really apply themselves in the right way to philosophy are directly and of their own accord preparing themselves for dying and death." -Socrates
@supertigik We can be proud of our achievements as a nation and still feel hopelessly far away from them at the same time. It doesn't mean we are fools and it certainly does not mean we feel like we belong.
This is my favorite philosopher, I felt such intimacy with him that, in a manner of inside joke I tattooed his face in my arm, knowing well what he thinks about idols. Never felt so understood that when I reach out to "a short story of decay".
I had never heard of or read about Emil Cioran until this video.I was patient through the life account and could not see the purpose of this video but when the biographical details ended,only then I realised the sublimity of his thoughts and how true they have been for me...Thank you for making us aware of this philosopher....
It's worth mentioning, that there are original audio recordings of Cioran speaking german, french and rumanian. The audio collection is called "Cafard". If you understand those languages (even if you don't), it's worth a listen. It's interessting, how different he sounds, than in your imagination, after reading most of his books.
As I've seen many people account before me in these comments, I found Cioran at one of my darkest times. He was a comfort and wrote what sounded incredibly familiar.
I didn't know Emil Cioran, thanks School of Life to present him to me. I always thought about the trouble with being born but I have never imagined someone could have already written about it before
I've never read him but parts of this spoke directly to me, as if he too is old friends with deep sorrow and the true knowledge of this cold and brutal world that only comes from having all of your joy and illusions ripped from you. I feel I have an understanding of the dance with death that he must have endured to the end. To truly know that you are already dead but your heart just hasn't stopped beating yet. Live for nothing else if not for your own amusement and enlightenment.
My favourite quite "It is no nation that we inhabit, but a language. Our language is our true fatherland" In the end everything is based on words we heard and words that shaped our minds. People who view themselves as patriots are ignorant of the fact that their actions are simply resault of words influencing our minds and work of suggestion.
I've read one of the books he's written in French, and found it incredibly enjoyable, simply because of his amazing use of language and words. Really glad to see him get a spotlight on the School of Life ! If anyone wants to check it out, the book in question was "Histoire et Utopie" or "History and Utopia". I found it was a good introduction to Cioran's delightfully cynical world !
This is by far my favourite channel on TH-cam. I have been watching your videos for almost two years and they never cease to impress me. I rarely write comments but I want to thank you for all the beautiful work you're putting into making the world we live in more endurable. Your channel have changed me as a person and I'm grateful for that. Your videos are something I always look forward to, a little patch of sunlight from everyday darkness. Thank you.
In high school, my french teacher (I'm French) offered all the classroom a book each, and he gave me a book of Cioran's aphorisms. Since then, I'm hooked
How did youtube know I was a depressed teenager who used to read a lot of Cioran? I had ALL of his books and carried them around for years Hahaha and I used to know quotes from them (in Romanian) Laughing at the “What do you do from morning to night? I endure myself”
I have been looking for this forever. I watched it once before and remembered the part about about being an accident and flinging oneself into misfortune and forgot which philosopher said that. Those parts are the best pieces of philosophy I have ever heard.
This channel is so much better than all of those self-help books out there. Here we have a place where someone will gently tell you the truth about life without being cloyingly optimistic.
I can't believe I've never heard of this guy. I've found some value in all the philosophers' works in this series so far, but Cioran is on another level. The "I endure myself" quote knocked the wind out of me; never have my evenings been described so accurately. I have to go out and read more of him immediately. Edit: Well, learning he loved Nazism and fascism is a dealbreaker for me. It was a brief but euphoric period before I found that out.
True. Existentialists don’t make me depressed. Make me not feel lonely. No one I know really agrees with them or reads them so I feel alone in the Absurd predicament we are in.
I am inspired by the way he manages to showcase his inner darkness in a very subtle yet powerful manner, realizing the soothing effects of melancholy, being able to truly be oneself in the face of terrible despair, the notion of connecting with humans when they are overflowing with 'their worst darkness', the very conceptual attitude of miserabilists, the existential nothingness, the very purposelessness of being born, etc. Feels like having a slow and melancholic yet pleasurable orgasm!
At last, Cioran gets his due attention an the recognition he deserves! It's wondrous that writers rather unknown like Cioran make it to this so important and popular channel! Never would I have expected to find this French moralist name in one of your videos. I think it's truly an amazing initiative, to bring something new to the table for while most people have at least heard Nietzsche's name or seen his moustache, they surely haven't heard of Cioran because he's not so popular, being usually neglected, which is a pity because he is one of the greatest of the entire XXth century given his exquisite combination of perfect literary style, corrosive content, slashing cynism and refined humour. I hope Cioran will be read more often from now on, as he surely has something to say about any of us! Good job That School of Life!
Though optimists and nihilists make good points respectively, I think it's best to live in a grey area between the two: aware enough to know there is no meaning, but happy enough not to care and make the most of life anyway.
Emil Cioran îs a good read anytime. I would, in spite of this, to limit the amount of reading him, one book at a time, as it is very tempting to go on and do nothing else. Cioran was a lovely man, and he offered suicide as a way trough which one could live his life to the fullest, and if everything fails, suicide will save one from his misery. He did not recommended suicide for the sake of it, and neither do I. There are many enjoyable things to do in life, one if which is reading Emil Cioran.
school of life is proving to be the dosage i have been missing in my life. i look forward to watching one on Diogenes of Sinope. thank you so much for your work
Thanks SCHOOL OF LIFE, please keep bringing to us the minds and hearts of great thinkers, philosophers, poets, musicians, artists, and men of science. TH-cam is saturated with half-assed pop psych and pseudo knowledge. Give us the hard stuff, don't underestimate the TH-cam community's level of intelligence, and willingness to learn.
A, what is this unusual feeling? Pride for my country? But being born in the same country as this man does not give me any advantage or disadvantage. I didn't contribute with anything to this moment. It's just the randomness of birth. And yet I and the other romanians still feel pride.
Personally i despise nationalism. I just see the hypocrisy in it all. Even if Cioran renounced his Romanian nationality, and even if throughout his work he pointed the uselessness of caring for such things, romanians still proud themselves with him for being romanian, but only because he is romanian. If he would have been the same exact person but born say in Hungary, most of the Romanians would not care about him. He rightfully said "Being Romanian is a curse i must live with". And while i too get that titillating feeling of pride when i see one of my fav youtube channels spotlighting a romanian, i'm just sickened by the constant begging of attention and national recognition that denotes the national inferiority complex most of us romanians have. But i love your comment, it is true, out of the randomness of being born in a certain place, we feel pride for a great man who we had nothing to do with other than being born in the same place.
Marius Malus Hai să fim serioși. Nu e nicio ipocrizie. Este vorba despre trăsături proprii ale poporului și despre experiența conviețuirii. Dacă Cioran se năștea în ... Belgia, să zicem, atunci nu mai era Cioran. Poate ar fi avut și alte viziuni filosofice, poate ar fi fost un optimist.
Identity is inescapable, even Cioran himself admitted that being Romanian contributed loads to his mentality and perception of the world around him, no matter how much he tried to escape it. You feel proud because you identify with him. Him being Romanian means you understand his native language, the food he ate, the landscapes that surrounded him, his culture. Maybe not necessarily inspired by his nation, but he harnessed the things around him from his nation and created a product truly beneficial to humanity as a whole. His success proves that there are valuable aspects to our nation that can be used to produce something of value, of course it's a reason to be proud. Although much has to do with individual genius, there are still plenty of cultures on this planet that aren't exactly capable of producing much excellence.
It has allot to do with Romanian fatalism and Cioran is a distillation of that fatalism. That's why we are proud of a person that developed in the same culture. Being proud of something you identify with it actually is a confirmation that your ideas are plausible.
@@ThePhoenixMapper no, but he was a french philosopher of romanian origins. Just like Brâncuși. I totally get them. When Brâncuși returned to Romania he said: "you were stupid and poor when i left, and now you are way more stupid and poor."
@@moiserares6974 It's pretty sad to see your own people fail to appreciate genuine talent while they're alive. You from Romania as well? If so, do you remember the statue thing? Such a farce, I tell you. However many times I'm confirmed that the Romanian zeitgeist cannot appreciate talent born on its soil until it's too late, I can nevertheless console myself by thinking of other, foreign artists, who met the same fate.
“Paradise was unendurable, otherwise the first man would have adapted to it, this world is no less so, since here we regret paradise or anticipate another one. What do do? where to go? Do nothing and go nowhere, easy enough.” One of my favourite paragraphs, ever.
Hear this wise man! Despite having a huge and highly virtuous and distinct output, I genuinely think that The Book of Disquiet is one of the most spellbinding books of philosophy/poetry of the XX century.
Yes!! I'm currently reading The book of disquiet and it's going very slowly because I need 1 hour for every small chapter to recover :)) and meditate on what he said.
WickedLoonuh ha I read that book over about 3 years but then kept it by my bed and reread it in chunks. He's like someone it takes a very long time to get to know but once you know them you want to keep them at your side
I'm reaally really really glad that you resumed making philosophy videos. Not that I dislike your other videos, but these types of videos are the ones I subscribed for and yearn watching the most. Thanks!
Diana Gr Of course I know French and Romanian are different! I thought the OP was commenting on the French in the beginning "mais je ne suis qu'un deconneur" since most people seem to marvel at his great French pronunciation.
I like his work and the thought it provokes. My thought on this one is that if sperm is indeed the pure state of a bandit then what does that say about the egg? I would object to saying that the egg is therefor the pure state of the victim. Who is really the victim and who the bandit? A funny line I heard one time was that a chicken is an eggs way of making another egg. So.... ;-) Rock on!
It makes no reasonable sense to be proud or ashamed of anything that you didn't choose, have had no control over, and which is the result of a mere coincidence.
I used to think suicides were cowards that took the easy way out. I now regard them as brave, and miserablists like Cioran and Ligotti the cowards for not just doing it. Maybe someday I'll stop being a coward.
Seriously, if you are really depressed, read Cioran. He made able to accept, even with some pride, my despair.
Cathartic
Meursault Probably the book mentioned in this video: Something on Being Born or such
What makes you take pride in your despair?
+Michael Mitchell having your eyes open, among quite a number of other things🤔? Idunno, let us think together😊.
There's a friend of mine and he admits he not only takes pride, but enjoys despairing. I wish I could but I can't understand it. Maybe you could argue that there is something satisfying about facing the cold, hard truth of life's situation? That it is inherently meaningless? Rather than drawing on the positives of that deduction, that it empowers us to attach meaning to whatever we want, he clings to the negatives. Buy why would someone have a preference towards the negative implications of such a deduction? I dunno XD what do you think?
“If we could truly see ourselves the way others see us we’d disappear on the spot.”
~e.m. cioran.
it's true
I'm too humiliated to function
from looking within
until accepted as self
He didn't become a french citizen, he never asked for the french citizenship. The communists took his Romanian citizenship away so he lived as a stateless person in France.
How befitting.
Basically an undocumented immigrant
@@oncetwice2195 no. documented. and stateless
Corneliu Z Codreanu if I got this right, he could’ve became a French citizen, but he didn’t cared to ask for it, so not that much stateless.
And really? Zelea codreanu? What are you? A fascist?
@@oncetwice2195 yes. I am a fascist. you?
For me Cioran was a huge revelation, I used to read him in the hallway of the university. everyone was around, a lot of noise, the laughs, the girls, the loneliness of not being alone by yourself.
steven perez henriquez isnt that "the loneliness of not being alone by yourself" an oxymoron? Or is there a typo I can't figure out?
could u please recommend me one of his books to start with?
JustAPink246 Maybe I'm not the most qualified person to recommend books, but I think that a good way to start in Cioran is his first book "in the highs of despair" or "history and utopia". But if you have the opportunity to read any of his work do it without hesitation.
steven perez henriquez great, thanks ;)
Caffa Jake when we are alone, even with our thoughts we have company. Some idea came along, the remembrance of someone maybe, perhaps is the way to avoid to be with ourselves truly.
I'm Moroccan and and I'm learning romanian, and Romania is my favourite country, it all started because of Cioran!!
This is not a good way for you to start learning Romanian Fraté lol
hhhhhhhhhhhhhh a madra kayn chi ta7ason f language
@@gurrenmed5319 daazte 6 ans khouna aykoun Jabha Romaniya w wled m3aha Ba3iya 😂😂😂
"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, On the Heights of Despair
Frumos :D
Many would be scared of Cioran's thinking, his work being full of sadness, despair and death. I'm glad that you clarified this problem, his books being more like an anti-depressant and a release in the tumultuous, unsettled and uncertain reality in which we live.
However, here is an interesting fact about Cioran and suicide! Emil Cioran was a great friend of the romanian-french playwright Eugen Ionescu (Eugène Ionesco, in french), whose work is a must-read, as well. Well, this guy was quite a friend of alcohol and despair. When Ionescu had a great depression crisis and wanted to kill himself, the one whom he called and convinced him not to do it was no other than Cioran. Nonetheless, both of those great geniuses of the 20th century had a heck of a long life, both reaching the age of 84 (Ionescu died in 1994, Cioran in 1995).
Despair is the sickness unto death, as Kierkegaard once said. When we feel like suffering of this hard disease, we may call Cioran to help us as well.
Congratulations, School of Life, on your channel and hard work, and thank you for bringing out a philosopher like Emil Cioran to a great audience's attention.
Greetings from Romania!
At least he wasnt Bacovia.
V. Emil the II-nd add Blaga on the list too
I love Ionescu and Cioran, therefore I love Romania too! And one of my all time favourite films is Romanian as well, namely the death of Mr. Lazarescu. Greetings from Greece!
They aren't geniuses, especially Ionescu. They were just smart, troubled people.
At the end of the day, I always feel like reading Cioran's. Always. Albeit pessimistic, I don't know but I find comfort in his writing. I thought to myself, "Have I gone mad?" I tried sharing my experience to a friend and he said that I am being miserable and depressing over trivial things that don't matter. I didn't say a word on the topic anymore, moved on, and vowed that I won't tell anyone about Cioran and his works, unless they "get it".
Cioran deserves to be known, more than now. He is a brilliant mind, and what happened to you with your friend regarding Cioran, it also happened to me. Te entiendo.
iicjlmbftn111 I think like that too about my philosophical beliefs but I question how will I know who “gets it” if I don’t bring it up?
@@luisemmanuel3990 I don't think many people should know about Cioran. If only because it will turn into mass culture. A person should come to it himself, understand it himself, without other people's recommendations and help. Cioran would not be happy if many people understood and read him, there would be many impostors who thought that their fleeting sadness somehow coincided with what Cioran felt. And even more so, it is a crime to involve a person in such things(Cioran said that it is a crime to enlighten a person in the truth of life, since he can no longer be happy, a stupid person is a happy person).
My favorite quote by Cioran is, for him, a rather sunny one. At least, it reveals what he liked:
"Bach is the only argument proving the creation of the universe
cannot be regarded as a complete failure."
ThePeaceableKingdom i
is this from "The book of delusions"?
what does 'bach' mean in this?
@@jackcook7640 Johann Sebastian Bach, classical music writer
Parece mais um escritor fracassado que um filosofo.
I never knew a single thing about Emil Cioran but now, thanks to this video, I very much want to know more. Thank you SoL.
mephistopheles the silent chief know more for what purpose?
Marc Pelletier Just to explore my personal interest in the way Cioran perceived the world and humanity, his nihilistic ideals particular.
mephistopheles the silent chief you may never recover. I didn't
Ran out of inspiration?
Better call SoL!
Hello there again Mephistopheles:-) Unfortunately I never got to like Cioran very much, but I only love this one thing he once said:
" God owes a lot to J.S. Bach".
If you wish to listen to one very beautiful piece by Bach, my favourite is this here:
" Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben" ( The version with Herreweghe and Sybilla Rubens )
I hope you are doing well. Have a nice week:-)
You don't find Cioran works. His works find you.
@EMNNUEL MUSIC Uncanny, wasn't it? Found me too. Hope his books are still in print.
Uncannily true.
can confirm at this very moment
Yes
Yep, definitely.
Did not expect to see a Romanian Philosopher here. That aside, i find The School of Life as one of the most inspiring thing you could stumble upon on youtube. I wish you not to ever run out of ideas and amazing content
Radu-Constantin Anastase Not likely to run out of ideas :) But, Greek-romanian at that! After Epictetus was there any other notable from the Helen until Cioran??
Duff Clem he was not Greak, he was Romanian and become later a French citizen. his father was a Greak-Orhtodox priest. That does not make him Greak. Greak-Orthododox is the name of the Orhodox church used by westerners to discribe the Estern Christians.
He was not Greek. His father was a Romanian Greek Orthodox priest.
They should give Mircea Eliade a look as well.
+Duff Clem en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Church
This guy helped me overcome suicidal thoughts. I love him! Thank you for this video.
Happy to hear this, Cioran also helped me to face death :3
I always have suicidal thoughts...
@@heekyungkim8147 May you overcome them every time. :)
heekyung Kim i find you in many Cioran videos. Hope you can face your demons and overcome them!
me too
He's always been a paradox to me. I remember how when I first came upon his works, I felt so comforted and at peace reading some pieces. Even though he's probably the darkest philosopher I know, he's so comforting.
"One does not inhabit a country; one inhabits a language. That is our country, our fatherland - and no other."
My favorite
Being depressed from the very childhood.. And now I am reading one of his books. I am quite fascinated about Emil!
just like my and my insomnia
"He couldn't sleep very well and was often up at 3am." *realizes I'm watching this at 3am*
2.31 here
2.41... we're getting there
I don't think is the same thing staying awake because you are doing an activity(reading/being on your phone) and staying awake because you are trapped with your thoughts (that'd be insomnia) so even if it were just a joke i just wanted to clarify that
2:27 here
2.47. Brutal.
"Having always lived in fear of being surprised by the worst, I have tried in every circumstance to get a head start, flinging myself into misfortune long before it could occur."
How have I not heard of this man before?
As far as I am concerned, I resign from humanity. I no longer want to be, nor can still be, a man. What should I do? Work for a social and political system, make a girl miserable? Hunt for weaknesses in philosophical systems, fight for moral and aesthetic ideals? It’s all too little. I renounce my humanity even though I may find myself alone. But am I not already alone in this world from which I no longer expect anything?
--Emil Cioran, On the Heights of Despair (1934)
ALL HAIL CIORAN
"It's all too little." Four words are all that is necessary to sum up the human condition in this pathetic universe.
One of may favs by Cioran "Those who believe in their truth leave the earth behind them strewn with corpses"
It reminds of another quote of his:' The devil pales in comparison with the man who possesses a truth. *His* truth.'
wow, this is unbelievably accurate, can't believe he said that, I deeply admire *anyone* who'd realise this o.o.
pissicutza09 >deep thought and quotes
>tz in Romanian
hmm...
Aztec Emperor >2017
>thinking the 'tz' thing is still relevant
Hey. I make short self improvement videos. Come watch them. Take what you want in life. My channel is here to help those who *want to change*. I'll help you see things in a simpler way. See ya there
Please make a video on Mircea Eliade! He's also a Romanian philosopher who wrote "The history of religious ideas" and other books mainly on the topic of religion and prophanity
Voi sunteţi două fete cu canal de yt comun?
Later Edit: Reea trebuie să fie pisica :3
Oknarub damm, m-ai prins! :)))
This I would like to see
his works dont even make sense most of the time, very overrated tbh
Yes definitely!
"To have committed every crime but that of being a father." - Emil Cioran
I like that one a lot. When ppl ask me "when are u gonna have kids?" I immediately think of that one, but if I quote/say it I might be in trouble as those who ask me are parents already 😅
Whoah, that sums up many, many things in my life.
Forcing someone to exist in this cesspool of hate and violence really is a crime today. Only the very selfish would force someone else to exist here, especially a child. Before breeding, people should always give it a very deep thought as to whether they should breed. But alas, the selfishness will overcome many that should not breed for the sake of the unborn. So will enter another slave for the oligarchies, and the mega corporations, into existence to toil until their bitter end, completely unappreciated, unthanked, and unacknowledged.
"I endure myself..." That's beautifully said. Hearing it articulated is comforting.
Next time I have one of my totally unproductive days and someone asks-which they actually rarely do-what did you do today, I will answer, proudly, I endured myself. That made me laugh heartily.
4:00 “Civilization [is] an absurd distraction from the ultimate meaninglessness of existence" -Emil Cioran
John Paradise "Emil Cioran is a bitch ass nigga." - me
Bryan Wheelock, Is that good or bad?
but he's white...... huh?! o.O
muntelezion, Each of us decides for ourselves if he is right!
What the fuck...where is the color of the skin In.. discussion?
Cioran is my favorite thinker. Also very underrated one, so I'm very excited about this video. I read his Cahiers like a bible, aphorisms for every day.
"Ordinary people seem not to realize that those who really apply themselves in the right way to philosophy are directly and of their own accord preparing themselves for dying and death."
-Socrates
James Apperson
Phaedo...or Apology? Hmm...I'll go with Apology.
wow, I can't believe it! I am from Romania and I feel proud to see a romanian philosopher in School of Life's gallery! You are doing a great job :)
Vladimir Stefan that's nationalistic and racist (just kidding I feel proud for our Greek philosophers too)
Stelios Toulis Yes guys but you have a lot of philosophers :))
"only the village's idiot thinks he belonged" you feel proud for someone who roasted your ass.
supertigik Hahaha
@supertigik We can be proud of our achievements as a nation and still feel hopelessly far away from them at the same time. It doesn't mean we are fools and it certainly does not mean we feel like we belong.
I see romanian stuff, I click like
Popa George nici eu nu mă așteptam
Nu sunteți singurii.
Popa George Stima! 🎩
Bine faci! :)
Imi place ca sunt ceva romani care urmaresc content de calitate, si nu "bravo, ai stil!". congrats guys
This is my favorite philosopher, I felt such intimacy with him that, in a manner of inside joke I tattooed his face in my arm, knowing well what he thinks about idols. Never felt so understood that when I reach out to "a short story of decay".
I had never heard of or read about Emil Cioran until this video.I was patient through the life account and could not see the purpose of this video but when the biographical details ended,only then I realised the sublimity of his thoughts and how true they have been for me...Thank you for making us aware of this philosopher....
It's worth mentioning, that there are original audio recordings of Cioran speaking german, french and rumanian. The audio collection is called "Cafard". If you understand those languages (even if you don't), it's worth a listen. It's interessting, how different he sounds, than in your imagination, after reading most of his books.
macheifach thanks, that sounds so cool!
I'm Romanian. You guys saved my life. And since then I've been recommending your Chanel to most of my friends. Thank you for doing this.
I would also recommend "Fall into Time", it is a phenomenal short book filled with pessimistic essays. Cioran was truly a genius.
Peravu da, Căderea în Timp e genială şi nu auzi nicăieri vorbindu'se mare lucru despre ea...una dintre preferatele mele, oricum
As I've seen many people account before me in these comments, I found Cioran at one of my darkest times. He was a comfort and wrote what sounded incredibly familiar.
And NOW read Nietzsches "Will to POWER " my friend ! This will strenghten your soul immensely . . .(and mind you: Power is NOT FORCE ! ! !)
darkest times of mine too, where my ex 27y old female comitted suicide i couldnt bare it back in 2019
I didn't know Emil Cioran, thanks School of Life to present him to me. I always thought about the trouble with being born but I have never imagined someone could have already written about it before
I've never read him but parts of this spoke directly to me, as if he too is old friends with deep sorrow and the true knowledge of this cold and brutal world that only comes from having all of your joy and illusions ripped from you. I feel I have an understanding of the dance with death that he must have endured to the end. To truly know that you are already dead but your heart just hasn't stopped beating yet. Live for nothing else if not for your own amusement and enlightenment.
Wow, never heard of Cioran before, but these more nihilistic philosophers enthrall me, I will read some of his works. Thank you for enlightening me.
My favourite quite "It is no nation that we inhabit, but a language. Our language is our true fatherland"
In the end everything is based on words we heard and words that shaped our minds. People who view themselves as patriots are ignorant of the fact that their actions are simply resault of words influencing our minds and work of suggestion.
Like me an Nasuverse.
I've read one of the books he's written in French, and found it incredibly enjoyable, simply because of his amazing use of language and words. Really glad to see him get a spotlight on the School of Life ! If anyone wants to check it out, the book in question was "Histoire et Utopie" or "History and Utopia". I found it was a good introduction to Cioran's delightfully cynical world !
Shiru Soso I read it, but in Romanian. Could you tell me if I can find it anywhere online or at least to buy it online in French? Thank you!!
Sometimes the only way we can really be happy is admitting how sad we've really been as of late. Good stuff
Nici eu nu m-am aşteptat să facă un video despre vreun român, chiar dacă Emil Cioran este un filozof foarte cunoscut în întreaga lume. :)
This is by far my favourite channel on TH-cam. I have been watching your videos for almost two years and they never cease to impress me. I rarely write comments but I want to thank you for all the beautiful work you're putting into making the world we live in more endurable. Your channel have changed me as a person and I'm grateful for that. Your videos are something I always look forward to, a little patch of sunlight from everyday darkness. Thank you.
cioran is truly the only person that can make me laugh about my despair
🙏 🤝 👍 life makes only true sense with a GREAT portion of humour !
In high school, my french teacher (I'm French) offered all the classroom a book each, and he gave me a book of Cioran's aphorisms.
Since then, I'm hooked
Cioran made a huge impact on my early teen years. Amazing writer
I'm so happy to see so many fellow romanians in the comments, didn't know so many of us watch this channel o.O
How did youtube know I was a depressed teenager who used to read a lot of Cioran? I had ALL of his books and carried them around for years
Hahaha and I used to know quotes from them (in Romanian) Laughing at the “What do you do from morning to night? I endure myself”
I have been looking for this forever. I watched it once before and remembered the part about about being an accident and flinging oneself into misfortune and forgot which philosopher said that. Those parts are the best pieces of philosophy I have ever heard.
One of the greatest philosophers who ever lived.
This channel is so much better than all of those self-help books out there. Here we have a place where someone will gently tell you the truth about life without being cloyingly optimistic.
"What do you do from day to night?"
"I endure myself"
😂😂😂😂
That line got me
❤
I can't believe I've never heard of this guy. I've found some value in all the philosophers' works in this series so far, but Cioran is on another level. The "I endure myself" quote knocked the wind out of me; never have my evenings been described so accurately. I have to go out and read more of him immediately.
Edit: Well, learning he loved Nazism and fascism is a dealbreaker for me. It was a brief but euphoric period before I found that out.
True. Existentialists don’t make me depressed. Make me not feel lonely. No one I know really agrees with them or reads them so I feel alone in the Absurd predicament we are in.
Brother what's your opinion on the philosophy of antinatalism?
“But I’m just a joker”
Probably the most savage line ever spoken by any philosopher
I am inspired by the way he manages to showcase his inner darkness in a very subtle yet powerful manner, realizing the soothing effects of melancholy, being able to truly be oneself in the face of terrible despair, the notion of connecting with humans when they are overflowing with 'their worst darkness', the very conceptual attitude of miserabilists, the existential nothingness, the very purposelessness of being born, etc. Feels like having a slow and melancholic yet pleasurable orgasm!
At last, Cioran gets his due attention an the recognition he deserves! It's wondrous that writers rather unknown like Cioran make it to this so important and popular channel! Never would I have expected to find this French moralist name in one of your videos. I think it's truly an amazing initiative, to bring something new to the table for while most people have at least heard Nietzsche's name or seen his moustache, they surely haven't heard of Cioran because he's not so popular, being usually neglected, which is a pity because he is one of the greatest of the entire XXth century given his exquisite combination of perfect literary style, corrosive content, slashing cynism and refined humour. I hope Cioran will be read more often from now on, as he surely has something to say about any of us! Good job That School of Life!
Though optimists and nihilists make good points respectively, I think it's best to live in a grey area between the two: aware enough to know there is no meaning, but happy enough not to care and make the most of life anyway.
Emil Cioran îs a good read anytime. I would, in spite of this, to limit the amount of reading him, one book at a time, as it is very tempting to go on and do nothing else. Cioran was a lovely man, and he offered suicide as a way trough which one could live his life to the fullest, and if everything fails, suicide will save one from his misery. He did not recommended suicide for the sake of it, and neither do I. There are many enjoyable things to do in life, one if which is reading Emil Cioran.
That almost perfect Romanian pronunciation though... :O
Keep up the good work!
it's English dear!
school of life is proving to be the dosage i have been missing in my life. i look forward to watching one on Diogenes of Sinope.
thank you so much for your work
Emil Cioran a very unique philosopher❤
You bet ! He was against unconscious breeding like rabbits . . .
Thanks SCHOOL OF LIFE, please keep bringing to us the minds and hearts of great thinkers, philosophers, poets, musicians, artists, and men of science.
TH-cam is saturated with half-assed pop psych and pseudo knowledge.
Give us the hard stuff, don't underestimate the TH-cam community's level of intelligence, and willingness to learn.
A, what is this unusual feeling? Pride for my country? But being born in the same country as this man does not give me any advantage or disadvantage. I didn't contribute with anything to this moment. It's just the randomness of birth. And yet I and the other romanians still feel pride.
Personally i despise nationalism. I just see the hypocrisy in it all. Even if Cioran renounced his Romanian nationality, and even if throughout his work he pointed the uselessness of caring for such things, romanians still proud themselves with him for being romanian, but only because he is romanian. If he would have been the same exact person but born say in Hungary, most of the Romanians would not care about him. He rightfully said "Being Romanian is a curse i must live with". And while i too get that titillating feeling of pride when i see one of my fav youtube channels spotlighting a romanian, i'm just sickened by the constant begging of attention and national recognition that denotes the national inferiority complex most of us romanians have. But i love your comment, it is true, out of the randomness of being born in a certain place, we feel pride for a great man who we had nothing to do with other than being born in the same place.
Loredana Vasilescu We just like to feel recognised. It makes us feel like we matter.
Marius Malus Hai să fim serioși. Nu e nicio ipocrizie. Este vorba despre trăsături proprii ale poporului și despre experiența conviețuirii. Dacă Cioran se năștea în ... Belgia, să zicem, atunci nu mai era Cioran. Poate ar fi avut și alte viziuni filosofice, poate ar fi fost un optimist.
Identity is inescapable, even Cioran himself admitted that being Romanian contributed loads to his mentality and perception of the world around him, no matter how much he tried to escape it.
You feel proud because you identify with him. Him being Romanian means you understand his native language, the food he ate, the landscapes that surrounded him, his culture. Maybe not necessarily inspired by his nation, but he harnessed the things around him from his nation and created a product truly beneficial to humanity as a whole.
His success proves that there are valuable aspects to our nation that can be used to produce something of value, of course it's a reason to be proud. Although much has to do with individual genius, there are still plenty of cultures on this planet that aren't exactly capable of producing much excellence.
It has allot to do with Romanian fatalism and Cioran is a distillation of that fatalism. That's why we are proud of a person that developed in the same culture. Being proud of something you identify with it actually is a confirmation that your ideas are plausible.
I'm so happy to see one of my favourite thinkers on one of my favourite you tube channels. way to go TSOF ! And way to go Cioran people 👍
Great! Now we need an episode on Philipp Mainländer and his "Philosophy of Redemption".
yes, that would be very interesting, including the influence of Schopenhauer
It's always funny to learn about someone who immediately feel a deep connection to, a kindred spirit I guess.
I can't put my finger on it, but this guy, I like this guy.
great video ... being a Romanian and watching this channel for a few years now makes me proud !
5:02 “We dread the future only when we are not sure that we can kill ourselves when we want to!“
He sure kept his good cheer!
"Our sorrows and happiness exists due to the high importance we give to out past experiences" E.Cioran
I love Emil Cioran. Can you make a video about another important romanian thinker, Lucian Blaga?
"It is no nation we inhibit, but a language; make no mistake but our mother tongue is our true fatherland" - Emil coran
Greetings from Romania!
Nobody cares if you're from Romania. And If anything he was a Frenchman as he wrote nearly everything in French..
Sepulchral Miasma | and what’s it’s to you if you don’t care? He is French just because he could write in French?
@@ThePhoenixMapper no, but he was a french philosopher of romanian origins. Just like Brâncuși. I totally get them. When Brâncuși returned to Romania he said: "you were stupid and poor when i left, and now you are way more stupid and poor."
@@hellinterface6721 he was romanian fuck you
@@moiserares6974 It's pretty sad to see your own people fail to appreciate genuine talent while they're alive. You from Romania as well? If so, do you remember the statue thing? Such a farce, I tell you.
However many times I'm confirmed that the Romanian zeitgeist cannot appreciate talent born on its soil until it's too late, I can nevertheless console myself by thinking of other, foreign artists, who met the same fate.
“Paradise was unendurable, otherwise the first man would have adapted to it, this world is no less so, since here we regret paradise or anticipate another one. What do do? where to go? Do nothing and go nowhere, easy enough.” One of my favourite paragraphs, ever.
Could you make a video about the Portuguese writer, Fernando Pessoa?
"Look, there's no metaphysics on earth like [Pessoa and] chocolates."
Hear this wise man! Despite having a huge and highly virtuous and distinct output, I genuinely think that The Book of Disquiet is one of the most spellbinding books of philosophy/poetry of the XX century.
Pedro Silva What a great comment! Thank you
I really hope that the School Of Life give this genius a good representation of his work
Yes!! I'm currently reading The book of disquiet and it's going very slowly because I need 1 hour for every small chapter to recover :)) and meditate on what he said.
WickedLoonuh ha I read that book over about 3 years but then kept it by my bed and reread it in chunks. He's like someone it takes a very long time to get to know but once you know them you want to keep them at your side
I'm reaally really really glad that you resumed making philosophy videos. Not that I dislike your other videos, but these types of videos are the ones I subscribed for and yearn watching the most. Thanks!
Wow. And thought Morrissey was fun.
He must've been a blast at parties.
Cioran's 'The Renegade' is a personal favorite of mine. Every time I read it, it sends chills through me.
Please make more Curriculum videos on topics related to History of Ideas
totally agree!
This is one of the best youtube lists ever and I will finally deal with my existence.
Congrats for your pronunciation !
Nivaldo85, lol, I was thinking the same :)
He is French after all.
Pallavi Sanyal pronunciation is romanian, french would be different. French and Romanian are 2 different languages with different rules
Pallavi Sanyal pronunciation is romanian, french would be different. French and Romanian are 2 different languages with different rules
Diana Gr Of course I know French and Romanian are different! I thought the OP was commenting on the French in the beginning "mais je ne suis qu'un deconneur" since most people seem to marvel at his great French pronunciation.
so proud to see a Romanian philosopher on this list !!!
Great video !! Mă bucur că și despre Cioran ați făcut
Alex Dulan Google translate?
Mitch Sup I'm glad that they made a video about Emil Cioran
Alex Dulan I know, I am romanian. I am asking if you used google translate since your romanian is a bit broken.
Mitch Sup Serios? M-am exprimat greșit sau?
Alex Dulan Era mai bine sa zici "Ma bucur ca ati facut (un video) si despre Cioran." Nu e neeaparat gresit cum ai spus tu, dar suna cam ciudat.
Finally ! I was waiting for a video of him. Thank you very much. When I was depressed and suicidal his book 'A Short History of Decay' kept me intact.
The most sincere of all.
I'm deeply thankful that they tried and succeeded to pronounce his name correctly
"Sperm is a bandit in its pure state."
I like his work and the thought it provokes. My thought on this one is that if sperm is indeed the pure state of a bandit then what does that say about the egg? I would object to saying that the egg is therefor the pure state of the victim. Who is really the victim and who the bandit? A funny line I heard one time was that a chicken is an eggs way of making another egg. So.... ;-) Rock on!
Horia Curpănaru du bist lumps man
*CAN'T WAIT TO COUNT OUT YOUR COIN.*
Cel mai blana citat al lui e cand il intreaba cineva ce face in fiecare dimineta si el raspunde:”Ma suport “
The Joker(Emil Cioran) :
-why so serious?
One of my favorite writers. More people should read his work.
Philosophy-Alan Watts would be good to see next!
Thanks for this documentary introducing Cioran, what a great thinker he was.
Most awaited.
omg I've been sooo waiting for a video like this one, it's very hard to find videos on Cioran's philosophy
Thank you for making it!!
pls do BERTRAND RUSSEL I want to see how are you going to interpret his complete rational outlook on life btw GREAT video
Yaaaaay, my friend of the most unbearable hours! Reading him is the last joy of the man who can't feel anything but pain. Lovely!
I''m such a proud romanian!!!!!❤️❤️❤️
It makes no reasonable sense to be proud or ashamed of anything that you didn't choose, have had no control over, and which is the result of a mere coincidence.
A high vibration spirit,the truth has been spoken by him,i think he is the most realistic person.
I used to think suicides were cowards that took the easy way out. I now regard them as brave, and miserablists like Cioran and Ligotti the cowards for not just doing it. Maybe someday I'll stop being a coward.
И я тоже
"Ageing is NOTHING for cowards !" (John Wayne '?)
As a romanian I need to thank you for this! :)