If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the idea that human beings have the freedom to make choices, but with this freedom comes the burden of responsibility for those choices.
Jean-Paul Sartre's quote emphasizes the philosophical concept of existentialism, which posits that individuals are not only free to make their own decisions but are also accountable for the consequences of those decisions. Being 'condemned to be free' suggests that this freedom can be a heavy burden, as it places the weight of one's existence and choices on the individual without reliance on external forces or predetermined paths.
Themes
FreedomResponsibilityExistentialismChoiceLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing existentialism, this quote can illustrate the weight of personal responsibility.
More from Jean-Paul Sartre
All quotes βAll 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.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
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.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
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.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
Night is falling: at dusk, you must have good eyesight to be able to tell the Good Lord from the Devil.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
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