This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the core of existentialism. It means our identity isn't fixed but is continually created and defined by the decisions we make throughout our lives. Every choice contributes to who we become, highlighting personal responsibility.
Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre: “We are our choices.”
We are our choices.
Insight
Historical Context
Published during World War II, this seminal philosophical work grappled with concepts of freedom, responsibility, and the nature of human existence in a world grappling with moral ambiguity and unprecedented violence.
About the Author
French philosopher, novelist, and playwright who is the central figure of twentieth-century existentialism. His 1943 work Being and Nothingness and his 1945 lecture 'Existentialism Is a Humanism' defined a philosophy of radical freedom and individual responsibility.
View all quotes by Jean-Paul Sartre