“To live is to lose ground.”
What this quote means
This maxim by Cioran expresses a pessimistic vision of existence: to live is to gradually lose one's illusions, vitality, innocence. Each experience distances us from our original state, makes us retreat before the wear of time. It resonates with our feeling of inevitable decline, of loss of bearings. In a world that values progress, it reminds us that life is also a renunciation. This can help us accept losses as inherent to the human condition, and find a form of wisdom in this dispossession.
How to apply it daily
Take a moment to identify what you have lost as you age (innocence, energy, illusions). Accept these losses as natural stages, and focus on what remains precious.
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