38 Inspiring Jean-Paul Sartre Quotes in French and English

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Explore 38 inspiring Jean-Paul Sartre quotes in French and English about life, choices, freedom, and existence and contemplate on his thought provoking words. Sartre’s existentialism posits that existence precedes essence; this means that individuals are not born with a predetermined purpose but rather create their own meaning through their choices and actions.

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Who was Jean-Paul Sartre?

Jean-Paul Sartre was a prominent French philosopher, playwright, novelist, and political activist, best known for his foundational role in the development of existentialism. He was born on June 21, 1905, in Paris, France. Sartre’s work spanned various genres and disciplines, but he is particularly recognized for his philosophical writings that explore themes of freedom, responsibility, and the nature of existence.

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In 1964, Jean-Paul Sartre was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his extensive body of work that profoundly influenced modern thought. However, he famously declined the prize. His refusal stemmed from a belief that accepting such an honor would compromise his independence as a writer and thinker. Sartre felt that no individual should be placed above others based on accolades or recognition; instead, he advocated for intellectual integrity and authenticity throughout his life’s work.

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Inspiring Jean-Paul Sartre Quotes

According to Sartre, human beings are condemned to be free and must navigate the inherent absurdity of life without relying on external authorities or predetermined values. Here are curated quotes by Jean-Paul Sartre each in French with their English translations:

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8 Jean-Paul Sartre Quotes about Choices

• “Chaque homme doit inventer son chemin.“: Every man must invent his own path.
• “Vivre, c’est choisir.”: To live is to choose.
• “On ne naît pas lâche, on le devient.“: One is not born cowardly, one becomes so.
• “Le passé est une dimension de l’homme.“: The past is a dimension of man.
• “Ce qui compte ce n’est pas ce qu’on a fait de moi, mais ce que je fais de ce qu’on a fait de moi.“: What matters is not what has been done to me, but what I do with what has been done to me.
• “Nous sommes responsables de tout.“: We are responsible for everything.
• “Tout choix implique un renoncement.”: Every choice implies a renunciation.
• “Nous sommes nos choix.” We are our choices.

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8 Jean-Paul Sartre Quotes about Life

• “La vie n’a pas de sens a priori. Il appartient à l’homme de lui donner un sens.“: Life has no meaning a priori. It is up to man to give it meaning.
• “L’homme est ce qu’il se fait.”: Man is what he makes of himself.
• “La vie commence de l’autre côté du désespoir.“: Life begins on the other side of despair.
• “L’essentiel n’est pas ce qu’on fait de l’homme, mais ce qu’il fait de ce qu’on a fait de lui.“: The essential thing is not what is made of man, but what he makes of what is made of him.
• “Il n’y a pas de nature humaine.” There is no human nature.
• “On n’est rien d’autre que ce que l’on fait.” We are nothing but what we do.
• “Il n’y a de réalité que dans l’action.”: There is no reality except in action.
• “La vie est une passion inutile.” Life is a useless passion.

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11 Jean-Paul Sartre Quotes on Freedom

• “L’homme est condamné à être libre.“: Man is condemned to be free.
• “Être libre, ce n’est pas pouvoir faire ce que l’on veut, c’est vouloir ce que l’on peut.”: To be free is not to be able to do what one wants, but to want what one can.
• “Nous sommes seuls sans excuses.” We are alone without excuses.
• “L’homme est liberté.“: Man is freedom.
• “L’enfer, c’est les autres.“: Hell is other people.
• “Être, c’est être pour autrui.“: To be is to be for others.
• “Il n’y a pas de déterminisme, l’homme est libre, l’homme est liberté.“: There is no determinism, man is free, man is freedom.
• “La liberté, c’est l’existence choisie.”: Freedom is chosen existence.
• “Refuser la liberté, c’est se nier soi-même.“: To refuse freedom is to deny oneself.
• “L’angoisse est le vertige de la liberté.”: Anguish is the dizziness of freedom.
• “La liberté est ce que vous faites avec ce qui vous a été fait.“: Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.

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11 Jean-Paul Sartre Quotes on Existence

• “L’existence précède l’essence.“: Existence precedes essence.
• “L’homme existe d’abord.“: Man exists first.
• “L’être humain n’a pas d’essence définie.“: The human being has no defined essence.
• “Nous existons avant de devenir quelque chose.“: We exist before becoming something.
• “L’homme est un projet.“: Man is a project.
• “L’existence est absurde.“: Existence is absurd.
• “L’homme est une passion inutile.“: Man is a useless passion.
• “Il faut assumer l’existence.“: One must assume existence.
• “L’homme est seul dans son existence.“: Man is alone in his existence.
• “L’existence ne peut être comprise que dans l’action.” Existence can only be understood through action.
• “Three o’clock is always too late or too early for anything you want to do.”

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