Artist Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
“In life man commits himself and draws his own portrait, outside of which there is nothing. No doubt this thought may seem harsh to someone who has not made a success of his life. But on the other hand, it helps people to understand that reality alone counts, and that dreams, expectations and hopes only serve to define a man as a broken dream, aborted hopes, and futile expectations.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: Existentialism, 20th century writings
The quote asserts that a person's identity is defined by their actions and achievements; aspirations without fulfillment are empty.
In simple terms: Identity comes from deeds, not dreams.
Key Takeaway
Focus on tangible achievements.
Themes
existentialism
identity
action
reality
illusion
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career building
- personal projects
- creative endeavors
- relationship commitments
Key Concepts
authenticity
self‑definition
meaning
purpose
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions define you?
- How do you balance ambition with realistic goals?
A Different Perspective
Dreams without action can lead to disillusionment and self‑deception.
![“Ife onye metalu' ['what a man commits'] - a statement unclear and menacing in its very inconclusiveness. What a man commits...Follows him? Comes back to take its toll? Was that all? No, that was only part of it ... The real burden of that cryptic scripture seemed to turn the matter right around…” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b12/chinua-achebe-781_bible_ife-onye-metalu-what-a-man-commits-a-sta_885070.jpg)
![“[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)
