Existentialism Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
““For instance, there is something new about my hands, a certain way of picking up my pipe or fork. Or else it's the fork which now has a certain way of having itself picked up, I don't know. A little while ago, just as I was coming into my room, I stopped short because I felt in my hand a cold object which held my attention through a sort of personality. I opened my hand, looked: I was simply holding the door-knob.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre, 1938
The narrator experiences a sudden, unsettling awareness of ordinary objects as if they possess a hidden personality, revealing existential alienation.
In simple terms: Every objects can feel strangely alive and alien.
Key Takeaway
Notice how everyday things can trigger deeper self‑reflection.
Themes
existentialism
perception
alienation
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading philosophy
- personal introspection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
subjectivity
embodiment
absurdity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do mundane objects reveal inner states?
- Can you differentiate perception from reality?
A Different Perspective
The feeling may be temporary and tied to mood, not a lasting insight.
![“[Stéphane Mallarmé] theory of the hermetic is a mistake, but he can be only difficult to read when he has difficult things to say.” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/35f/jean-paul-sartre-220_difficult_st-phane-mallarm-theory-of-the-hermetic_20348.jpg)
