If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
Nothing happens while you live. The scenery changes, people come in and go out, that's all. There are no beginnings. Days are tacked on to days without rhyme or reason, an interminable, monotonous addition.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is a continuous flow without significant change, only superficial variations.
In this quote, Jean-Paul Sartre reflects on the nature of existence, emphasizing that while our surroundings and social circles may shift over time, the essence of life remains unchanged and stagnant. He suggests that life is marked by a monotonous addition of days where meaningful beginnings are elusive, inviting contemplation on the deeper significance of our experiences.
Themes
LifeMonotonyExistencePhilosophyTime
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on the nature of life in a philosophy class.
More from Jean-Paul Sartre
All quotes →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.
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.
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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.
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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