Aggression Quote by Emile M. Cioran
“To write books is to have a certain relation with original sin. For what is a book if not a loss of innocence, an act of aggression, a repetition of our Fall?”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Temptation of Existentialism, 1957
Writing involves confronting original sin, losing innocence, and repeating humanity’s fall through aggressive creation.
In simple terms: Writing is an act of confronting loss and repeating human flaws.
Key Takeaway
Accept the darkness inherent in creation.
Themes
existentialism
literature
sin
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- poetry
- critical essays
Key Concepts
nihilism
creative aggression
philosophical inquiry
Questions to Reflect On
- Does creation always entail loss?
- Can art also restore innocence?
A Different Perspective
The view may be overly pessimistic about artistic value.
![“[Ending] is partly drawn from a desire to shock the audience, to brutally de-romanticize what many Americans think is happening overseas. And partly drawn from my own childhood: violence and a loss of innocence. But keep in mind that, as a writer, I'm both the criminal and the victim. I'm not…” quote by Said Sayrafiezadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c0/said-sayrafiezadeh-16091_audience_ending-is-partly-drawn-from-a-desire-to_597129.jpg)
![“Now they [the Powers] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield to them, I would have no face to see our ancestors after death. If we must perish, why not fight to the death?” quote by Empress Dowager Cixi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/947/empress-dowager-cixi-68177_after-death_now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-agg_53275.jpg)
