Habits Quote by Emil Cioran
““The apprenticeship to passivity—I know nothing more contrary to our habits. (The modern age begins with two hysterics: Don Quixote and Luther.) If we make time, produce and elaborate it, we do so out of our repugnance to the hegemony of essence and to the contemplative submission it presupposes. Taoism seems to me wisdom’s first and last word: yet I resist it, my instincts reject it, as they refuse to endure anything—the heredity of revolt is too much for us. Our disease? Centuries of attention to time, the idolatry of becoming. What recourse to China or India will heal us?””
About This Quote
The modern era is trapped in passivity, clinging to time and becoming, while true wisdom lies beyond such constraints.
In simple terms: We are stuck in habits of time‑obsession and resistance to deeper insight.
Key Takeaway
Question and break free from habitual time fixation.
Themes
philosophy
modernity
resistance
Mood
critical
contemplative
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- creative work
- spiritual practice
- academic study
Key Concepts
existentialism
Taoism
identity crisis
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “becoming” mean to you?
- How can you balance action with contemplation?
A Different Perspective
Escaping time may be impractical for many.
