--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A decadent civilization compromises with…" description: "\"A decadent civilization compromises with its disease, cherishes the virus infecting it, loses its self-respect.\" — Emile M. Cioran" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/emile-m-cioran-1211_advice_a-decadent-civilization-compromises-with_2078936.jpg" --- # A decadent civilization compromises with its disease… ![“A decadent civilization compromises with its disease, cherishes the virus infecting it, loses its self-respect.” quote by Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/emile-m-cioran-1211_advice_a-decadent-civilization-compromises-with_2078936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/emile-m-cioran-1211_advice_a-decadent-civilization-compromises-with_2078936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/emile-m-cioran-1211_advice_a-decadent-civilization-compromises-with_2078936.jpg) > “A decadent civilization compromises with its disease, cherishes the virus infecting it, loses its self-respect.” [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-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. A society that normalizes its own decay loses dignity and self‑respect. **In simple terms:** Accepting decay erodes collective dignity Key Takeaway Resist complacency; protect health; uphold dignity Themes decay self‑respect societal health Mood somber critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - urban decay - pandemic response - government policy Key Concepts Public health cultural critique ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - What signs of decay are ignored in your community? - How can dignity be restored after collective neglect? A Different Perspective Denial of disease can be a coping mechanism, hindering action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Cherish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherish/) [Cherishes Virus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherishes-virus-4049900/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Compromises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-compromises-4049898/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromises Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromises-disease-4049902/) [Decadent Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadent-civilization-4049901/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Disease Cherishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease-cherishes-4049899/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) [Viruses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viruses/) ## Related quotes > [Only cells that had been transformed by a virus or a genetic mutation had the potential to become immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-skloot/only-cells-that-had-been-transformed-by-a-virus-or-a-genetic-mutation/) [Rebecca Skloot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-skloot/) > [Nuclear weapons need large facilities, but genetic engineering can be done in a small lab. 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Cioran > [What does the future, that half of time, matter to the man who is infatuated with eternity?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/what-does-the-future-that-half-of-time-matter-to-the-man-who-is/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [To defy heredity is to defy billions of years, to defy the first cell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/to-defy-heredity-is-to-defy-billions-of-years-to-defy-the-first-cell/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [A people represents not so much an aggregate of ideas and theories as of obsessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/a-people-represents-not-so-much-an-aggregate-of-ideas-and-theories-as/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > ["The Holy Ghost," Luther instructs us, "is not a skeptic." Not everyone can be, and that is really too bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/the-holy-ghost-luther-instructs-us-is-not-a-skeptic-not-everyone-can/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Every word affords me pain. Yet how sweet it would be if I could hear what the flowers have to say about death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/every-word-affords-me-pain-yet-how-sweet-it-would-be-if-i-could-hear/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Woes and wonders of Power, that tonic hell, synthesis of poison and panacea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/woes-and-wonders-of-power-that-tonic-hell-synthesis-of-poison-and/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [If each of us were to confess his most secret desire, the one that inspires all his plans, all his actions, he would say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/if-each-of-us-were-to-confess-his-most-secret-desire-the-one-that/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [He who hates himself is not humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/he-who-hates-himself-is-not-humble/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Impossible to spend sleepless nights and accomplish anything: if, in my youth, my parents had not financed my insomnias, I should surely have killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/impossible-to-spend-sleepless-nights-and-accomplish-anything-if-in-my/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [One is and remains a slave as long as one is not cured of hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/one-is-and-remains-a-slave-as-long-as-one-is-not-cured-of-hoping/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Let us not be needlessly bitter: certain failures are sometimes fruitful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/let-us-not-be-needlessly-bitter-certain-failures-are-sometimes/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Ambition is a drug that makes its addicts potential madmen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/ambition-is-a-drug-that-makes-its-addicts-potential-madmen/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Humanity adores only those who cause it to perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/humanity-adores-only-those-who-cause-it-to-perish/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Psychoanalysis is a technique we practice at our cost; psychoanalysis degrades our risks, our dangers, our depths; it strips us of our impurities, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/psychoanalysis-is-a-technique-we-practice-at-our-cost-psychoanalysis/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) [Explore all 272 Emile M. Cioran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. 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