{
  "type": "quote",
  "site": {
    "name": "Leafy Quotes",
    "language": "en",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com"
  },
  "formats": "Every page has two versions with the same data: JSON (the page address + .json) and markdown (the page address + .md). Append .json or .md to any `url` in this document.",
  "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/self-knowledge-the-bitterest",
  "json": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/self-knowledge-the-bitterest.json",
  "markdown": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/self-knowledge-the-bitterest.md",
  "id": "f60a1b85-9ac9-4238-b0f8-539cbf7d7e7e",
  "slug": "self-knowledge-the-bitterest",
  "text": "Self-knowledge — the bitterest knowledge of all and also the kind we cultivate least: what is the use of catching ourselves out, morning to night, in the act of illusion, pitilessly tracing each act back to its root, and losing case after case before our own tribunal?",
  "language": "en",
  "author": {
    "name": "Emil Cioran",
    "slug": "emil-cioran",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran"
  },
  "book": {
    "title": "The Trouble With Being Born",
    "slug": "the-trouble-with-being-born",
    "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born"
  },
  "character": null,
  "chapter": null,
  "chapter_parent": null,
  "page": null,
  "verified": false,
  "original": null,
  "other_languages": [],
  "topics": [
    {
      "name": "self-knowledge",
      "slug": "self-knowledge",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-knowledge"
    },
    {
      "name": "illusions",
      "slug": "illusions",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions"
    }
  ],
  "source": {
    "name": "Wikiquote",
    "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emil_Cioran#The_Trouble_With_Being_Born_(1973)",
    "license": {
      "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
      "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
    }
  },
  "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:39:42",
  "more_from_book": [
    {
      "id": "f917c4f1-8839-446d-9a6f-427450c3c41f",
      "slug": "only-one-thing",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/only-one-thing",
      "text": "Only one thing matters: learning to be the loser.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "success and failure",
          "slug": "success-and-failure",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/success-and-failure"
        },
        {
          "name": "humility",
          "slug": "humility",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humility"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emil_Cioran#The_Trouble_With_Being_Born_(1973)",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:39:43"
    },
    {
      "id": "d92a9211-f8dd-456d-80dc-d802773e9c91",
      "slug": "obviously-god-was",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/obviously-god-was",
      "text": "Obviously God was a solution, and obviously none so satisfactory that will ever be found again.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "god",
          "slug": "god",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/god"
        },
        {
          "name": "faith",
          "slug": "faith",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emil_Cioran#The_Trouble_With_Being_Born_(1973)",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:39:43"
    },
    {
      "id": "cd9147bd-c784-4b57-84f3-f3bb4eb947d3",
      "slug": "to-have-failed",
      "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/to-have-failed",
      "text": "To have failed in everything, always, out of a love of discouragement.",
      "language": "en",
      "character": null,
      "chapter": null,
      "chapter_parent": null,
      "page": null,
      "verified": false,
      "original": null,
      "other_languages": [],
      "topics": [
        {
          "name": "success and failure",
          "slug": "success-and-failure",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/success-and-failure"
        },
        {
          "name": "pessimism",
          "slug": "pessimism",
          "url": "https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/pessimism"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "name": "Wikiquote",
        "url": "https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emil_Cioran#The_Trouble_With_Being_Born_(1973)",
        "license": {
          "label": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
          "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
        }
      },
      "added_at": "2026-09-25T22:39:43"
    }
  ]
}