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Jean Paul Sartre Quotes
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321 Thought-Provoking Quotes on Individuality, Existence, and Life

Discover the profound wisdom of Jean Paul Sartre through a collection of thought-provoking quotes. From the importance of individuality and self-determination to the complexities of human existence, delve into the mind of this influential philosopher and explore his unique perspectives on life.

Jean-Paul Sartre was a prominent French philosopher, playwright, novelist, and political activist. He is considered a leading figure in 20th-century French philosophy and Marxism, known for his work in existentialism. Sartre's philosophy influenced various fields including sociology, critical theory, post-colonial theory, and literary studies. Despite declining official honors, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964. Sartre had a significant relationship with feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir and together they challenged societal norms and expectations. The conflict between conformity and authenticity was a central theme in his early work.

Born on June 21, 1905 in Paris, Sartre showed an early interest in philosophy and literature. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure where he formed lifelong friendships with influential intellectuals of his time. Sartre's philosophical development was greatly influenced by attending seminars conducted by Alexandre Kojève. Throughout his life, Sartre actively engaged in political activism and social justice causes. He strongly opposed colonization and supported the Algerian War for independence from French rule as well as anti-American involvement in the Vietnam War. As a prolific writer, Sartre produced numerous works including plays such as "No Exit" and "The Flies". In later years, he renounced literature but continued to write about politics and issues of social import. Jean-Paul Sartre passed away on April 15, 1980 in Paris.

✵ 21. June 1905 – 15. April 1980  •  Other names Jean-Paule Sartre
Jean Paul Sartre photo
Jean Paul Sartre: 321 quotes51 likes

Jean Paul Sartre Quotes

“I am. I am, I exist, I think, therefore I am; I am because I think, why do I think? I don't want to think any more, I am because I think that I don't want to be, I think that I… because… ugh!”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: Nausea

“It answers the question that was tormenting you: my love, you are not 'one thing in my life' - not even the most important - because my life no longer belongs to me because… you are always me.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“I exist, that is all, and I find it nauseating.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Being and Nothingness

Nausea (1938)
Source: Being and Nothingness

“Through the lack of attaching myself to words, my thoughts remain nebulous most of the time. They sketch vague, pleasant shapes and then are swallowed up; I forget them almost immediately.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Variant: Most of the time, because of their failure to fasten on to words, my thoughts remain misty and nebulous. They assume vague, amusing shapes and are then swallowed up: I promptly forget them.
Source: Nausea

“I felt myself in a solitude so frightful that I contemplated suicide. What held me back was the idea that no one, absolutely no one, would be moved by my death, that I would be even more alone in death than in life.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: La náusea

“You must be like me; you must suffer in rhythm.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: Nausea

“I had found my religion: nothing seemed more important to me than a book. I saw the library as a temple.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Words

Source: The Words

“Existence is an imperfection.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“People who live in society have learned how to see themselves in mirrors as they appear to their friends. I have no friends. Is that why my flesh is so naked?”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Diary entry of Friday (2 February)
Source: Nausea (1938)

“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.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: Nausea

“Do you think that I count the days? There is only one day left, always starting over: it is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Devil and the Good Lord

Act 10, sc. 2
The Devil and the Good Lord (1951)

“Better a good journalist than a poor assassin.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“Man is condemned to be free. Condemned because he did not create himself, yet is nevertheless at liberty, and from the moment he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“One always dies too soon — or too late. And yet, life is there, finished: the line is drawn, and it must all be added up. You are nothing other than your life.”

Jean Paul Sartre No Exit

On meurt toujours trop tôt - ou trop tard. Et cependant la vie est là, terminée : le trait est tiré, il faut faire la somme. Tu n'es rien d'autre que ta vie.
Inès, Act 1, sc. 5
No Exit (1944)

“As for me, I am mean: that means that I need the suffering of others to exist. A flame. A flame in their hearts. When I am all alone, I am extinguished.”

Jean Paul Sartre No Exit

Inès, describing her path to Hell, Act 1, sc. 5
Source: No Exit (1944)

“You know, it's quite a job starting to love somebody. You have to have energy, generosity, blindness. There is even a moment, in the very beginning, when you have to jump across a precipice: if you think about it you don't do it.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Variant: It's quite an undertaking to start loving somebody. You have to have energy, generosity, blindness. There is even a moment right at the start where you have to jump across an abyss: if you think about it you don't do it.
Source: Nausea (1938)
Context: I know. I know that I shall never again meet anything or anybody who will inspire me with passion. You know, it's quite a job starting to love somebody. You have to have energy, generosity, blindness. There is even a moment, in the very beginning, when you have to jump across a precipice: if you think about it you don't do it. I know I'll never jump again.

“I exist. It is soft, so soft, so slow. And light: it seems as though it suspends in the air. It moves.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: Nausea (1938)

“Little flashes of sun on the surface of a cold, dark sea.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: Nausea

“The individual's duty is to do what he wants to do, to think whatever he likes, to be accountable to no one but himself, to challenge every idea and every person.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Age of Reason

Source: The Age of Reason

“Being is. Being is in-itself. Being is what it is.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“There is a universe behind and before him. And the day is approaching when closing the last book on the last shelf on the far left; he will say to himself, "now what?”

Jean Paul Sartre

Source: Nausea, The Wall and Other Stories

“Anything, anything would be better than this agony of mind, this creeping pain that gnaws and fumbles and caresses one and never hurts quite enough.”

Jean Paul Sartre No Exit

Source: No Exit

“your judgement judges you and defines you”

Jean Paul Sartre

“I wanted my own words. But the ones I use have been dragged through I don't know how many consciences.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Wall

Source: The Wall

“If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Devil and the Good Lord

Act 1
The Devil and the Good Lord (1951)

“It is only in our decisions that we are important.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“Life is a useless passion.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Being and Nothingness

Part 4, Chapter 2, III
Variant: Man is a useless passion.
Source: Being and Nothingness (1943)

“I said to myself, 'I want to die decently'.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Wall

Source: The Wall

“The aim of language… is to communicate… to impart to others the results one has obtained… As I talk, I reveal the situation… I reveal it to myself and to others in order to change it.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“Existence is prior to essence.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Being and Nothingness

Part 4, chapter 1
Being and Nothingness (1943)
Variant: Existence precedes and rules essence.

“Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness and dies by chance.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Tout existant naît sans raison, se prolonge par faiblesse et meurt par rencontre.
Nausea (1938)

“I am myself and I am here.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“Perhaps its inevitable, perhaps one has to choose between being nothing at all and impersonating what one is.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Age of Reason

Source: The Age of Reason

“I confused things with their names: that is belief.”

Jean Paul Sartre book The Words

Source: The Words

“I do not think therefore I am a moustache”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: Nausea

“He is always becoming, and if it were not for the contingency of death, he would never end.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Nausea

Source: Nausea

“Fear? If I have gained anything by damning myself, it is that I no longer have anything to fear.”

Jean Paul Sartre The Flies

Act 1
The Flies (1943)

“I’ve dropped out of their hearts like a little sparrow fallen from its nest. So gather me up, dear, fold me to your heart – and you’ll see how nice I can be.”

Jean Paul Sartre

Source: No Exit and Three Other Plays

“Death is a continuation of my life without me…”

Jean Paul Sartre

“An individual chooses and makes himself.”

Jean Paul Sartre

“Nothingness haunts being.”

Jean Paul Sartre book Being and Nothingness

Part 1, Chapter 1, III
Being and Nothingness (1943)