It is truly wonderful that Cioran moved to Paris, decided to live without ever holding down a job, and succeeded! Just thinking about this success sparks ideas… It is curious: it seems that something always comes to the rescue of every radical decision of this kind. At least, that is the impression that seems to emerge from reading countless biographies. Someone will surely object: “These, of course, are the ones who survived to tell the story.” But there are many! They go to the extremes of anguish, and when they find the situation unbearable, when they would rather die than prolong it, they take the risk, resolve to do the impossible, and commit to never giving in. And, in the end, things happen. Ah, ideas!…
Injustice Is an Opportunity
Injustice is an opportunity. When it occurs, there is a range of possible reactions. The most common are the most natural, ranging from sadness and discouragement to indignation. These are understandable but thoughtless reactions. They neither impress nor elevate. Injustice, however, offers an opportunity for personal growth—not only to avoid being affected by it and to overcome it, but also to practice the most authentic compassion. In these moments, it is possible to rise above nature, it is possible to be great and to forgive. And, truly, few images leave as deep an impression as that of the wronged person who, mature and compassionate, overcame the injustice without holding a grudge.
The Art of Life Is to Consciously Make…
This must be repeated endlessly: the art of life is to consciously make it a transformative process in which the individual becomes what he intends to be. To this end, it is necessary first to visualize, then to deliberate, and finally to remain faithful to the plan of action. Of course, there will never be a perfect execution, and it is only natural that everything will conspire to prevent the plan from coming to fruition. It is only natural that, once the commitment is made, countless obstacles will arise, constantly manifesting from places one never expected. And it is only natural that one will often stumble, fall, and betray that initial intention. But it is precisely in the face of difficulties that it is realized; it is precisely in carrying it forward despite everything and, even while aware of the flaws and difficulties, in not giving up.
It Is Very Rewarding When We Finally Manage…
It is very rewarding when we finally manage to consciously turn a bad experience into a good feeling. No amount of instruction compares to what we learn after actually doing it, even when, in theory, we already knew what to expect. Doing it once, however, is helpful, but it is not enough. Because just as surely as we learn from doing it, after a while our mood will fluctuate. Then the lesson learned, the positive feeling experienced, will give way to bad thoughts and feelings. It will be necessary to deal with them, make them temporary, if possible brief, and supplant them with the memory of that lesson. They can never be suppressed. Therefore, we must be humble, and never give in to the temptation to believe, for a single moment, that we are absolute masters of ourselves.