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It is only in our decisions that we are important.
Jean-Paul Sartre
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Our significance arises from the choices we make.

This quote by Jean-Paul Sartre emphasizes the existentialist belief that an individual's importance is defined by their decisions and actions rather than by external factors or inherent qualities. It suggests that our freedom to choose reflects our essence and gives our lives meaning.

Themes

DecisionsExistentialismImportanceChoiceFreedom

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about making impactful life choices.

More from Jean-Paul Sartre

If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
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All I want is' - and he uttered the final words through clenched teeth and with a sort of shame - 'to retain my freedom.' I should myself have thought,' said Jacques, 'that freedom consisted in frankly confronting situations into which one had deliberately entered, and accepting all one's responsibilities. But that, no doubt, is not your view.
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If you are lonely when you're alone, you are in bad company.
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A kiss without a moustache, they said then, is like an egg without salt; I will add to it: and it is like Good without Evil.
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I wanted pure love: foolishness; to love one another is to hate a common enemy: I will thus espouse your hatred. I wanted Good: nonsense; on this earth and in these times, Good and Bad are inseparable: I accept to be evil in order to become good.
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Night is falling: at dusk, you must have good eyesight to be able to tell the Good Lord from the Devil.
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