Life Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
“I wanted the moments of my life to follow and order themselves like those of a life remembered. You might as well try and catch time by the tail.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Existential Reflections, 1945
The desire for life to unfold naturally clashes with the urge to control time, revealing tension between acceptance and agency.
In simple terms: We want life to order itself but also try to seize time.
Key Takeaway
Balance acceptance with purposeful action.
Themes
existentialism
time
control
Mood
philosophical
inspirational
Type
existential
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal planning
- creative projects
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
free will
determinism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile acceptance and ambition?
- What small actions honor both?
A Different Perspective
Attempting to control time can create anxiety.
![“[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)
