If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
Man is fully responsible for his nature and his choices.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Humans are accountable for their actions and the essence of their character.
This quote by Jean-Paul Sartre emphasizes the existentialist belief that individuals are the architects of their own lives. It suggests that our choices define us and that we must take responsibility for our decisions, understanding that our essence is shaped by our actions rather than predetermined by external factors or societal expectations.
Themes
ResponsibilityChoicesExistentialismNatureIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing ethics, this quote can prompt a debate about moral 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.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
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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