Jean-Paul Sartre: Biography and 10 Best Quotes – Existentialist Philosopher and Writer
Jean-Paul Sartre Biography
Jean-Paul Sartre, born on June 21, 1905, in Paris, France, was one of the most influential philosophers, novelists, and playwrights of the 20th century. Sartre is best known as a founder of existentialism, a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility.
Sartre studied at the École Normale Supérieure and later became a prominent public intellectual. His major works include Being and Nothingness, Nausea, and the play No Exit. Sartre’s ideas focused on the absurdity of existence, the burden of freedom, and the necessity of creating one’s own meaning in a world without inherent purpose.
A committed activist, Sartre spoke out on political and social issues, often using his writing to challenge oppression and injustice. He declined the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964, stating that a writer should not become an institution. Sartre’s relationship with philosopher and feminist Simone de Beauvoir remains one of the most famous intellectual partnerships in modern history. Sartre died on April 15, 1980, leaving an enduring legacy.
10 Best Quotes by Jean-Paul Sartre
- “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.”
- “Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.”
- “Hell is other people.”
- “Existence precedes essence.”
- “Commitment is an act, not a word.”
- “When the rich wage war, it’s the poor who die.”
- “To know what life is worth you have to risk it once in a while.”
- “We are our choices.”
- “Words are loaded pistols.”
- “If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.”
Final Thoughts
Jean-Paul Sartre’s bold ideas about freedom, existence, and human responsibility continue to challenge and inspire people today. His quotes invite us to live authentically, take responsibility for our actions, and shape our own meaning in life.