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I never could bear the idea of anyone's expecting something from me. It always made me want to do just the opposite.
Jean-Paul Sartre
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses a resistance to external expectations and a desire for autonomy in one's actions.

Jean-Paul Sartre's quote reflects the existentialist idea that individuals should not be burdened by the expectations and desires of others. Instead, he suggests that the pressure to conform to others' anticipations often leads him to act in rebellion against those expectations. This highlights a fundamental struggle for personal freedom and authenticity in the face of societal norms and pressures.

Themes

ExpectationsAutonomyRebellionFreedomAuthenticity

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophy class discussing existentialism, this quote can illustrate the importance of personal choice.

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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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