If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
Man's existence precedes his essence
Interpretation
This quote highlights the idea that individuals create their own identity and purpose through their actions, rather than being born with a predetermined essence.
Jean-Paul Sartre's assertion 'Man's existence precedes his essence' suggests that human beings first exist without any inherent purpose or definition, and it is through their choices and actions that they create their own essence or meaning in life. This philosophy aligns with existentialism, emphasizing personal responsibility and the freedom to define oneself without relying on external labels or expectations.
In practice
During a philosophy class discussion about existentialism.
If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
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.
If you are lonely when you're alone, you are in bad company.
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.
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.
Night is falling: at dusk, you must have good eyesight to be able to tell the Good Lord from the Devil.
There is no such thing as a good tax.
In truth the Church is too unique to prove herself unique. For most popular and easy proof is by parallel; and here there is no parallel.
When a man is born...there are nets flung at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets.
Whatever skills I have acquired, whatever gifts I have been given, I place them at Your service.
Humans aren't as good as we should be in our capacity to empathize with feelings and thoughts of others, be they humans or other animals on Earth.
For ages this idea has been proclaimed in the consummately wise teachings of religion, probably not alone as a means of insuring peace and harmony among men, but as a deeply founded truth. The Buddhist expresses it in one way, the Christian in another, but both say the same: We are all one.
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