--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The notion that it would have been better…" description: "\"“The notion that it would have been better never to exist is among those which meet with the most opposition. Every man, incapable of seeing himself ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/emil-m-cioran-2951_every-man_the-notion-that-it-would-have-been-bette_3187642.jpg" --- # The notion that it would have been better never to exist… ![“The notion that it would have been better never to exist is among those which meet with the most opposition. Every man, incapable of seeing himself except from inside, regards himself as necessary, even indispensable, every man feels and perceives himself as an absolute reality, as a whole, as the…” quote by Emil M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/emil-m-cioran-2951_every-man_the-notion-that-it-would-have-been-bette_3187642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/emil-m-cioran-2951_every-man_the-notion-that-it-would-have-been-bette_3187642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/emil-m-cioran-2951_every-man_the-notion-that-it-would-have-been-bette_3187642.jpg) > ““The notion that it would have been better never to exist is among those which meet with the most opposition. Every man, incapable of seeing himself except from inside, regards himself as necessary, even indispensable, every man feels and perceives himself as an absolute reality, as a whole, as the whole. The moment we identify ourselves entirely with our own being, we react like God, we are God. It is only when we live at once within and on the margins of ourselves that we can conceive, quite calmly, that it would have been preferable that the accident we are should never have occurred.”” [Emil M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-m-cioran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing our existence as both necessary and contingent reveals that self‑importance can be a delusion, and humility allows us to accept the possibility that we might not have been needed. **In simple terms:** We are both essential and accidental; humility helps us see that. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and question absolute self‑importance. Themes existentialism humility self‑perception philosophy Mood reflective melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - therapy sessions - philosophical debates - personal reflection - creative writing - spiritual practice Key Concepts nihilism subjectivity identity meaning absurdity Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging our contingency affect your sense of purpose? - Can humility coexist with healthy self‑esteem? A Different Perspective The view may overlook the value of individual agency and purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-reality-289722/) [Better Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-exist-902769/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Perceives Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceives-absolute-5866313/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [“Better to exist without destiny, only to exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninotchka-rosca/better-to-exist-without-destiny-only-to-exist/) [Ninotchka Rosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninotchka-rosca/) > [It was the first time I realized that absolute reality could be so much more fun than fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/it-was-the-first-time-i-realized-that-absolute-reality-could-be-so/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [War is a beastly business, it is true, but one proof we are human is our ability to learn, even from it, how better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-k-fisher/war-is-a-beastly-business-it-is-true-but-one-proof-we-are-human-is/) [M. 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