Being true Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
“It is not right, my fellow-countrymen, you who know very well all the crimes committed in our name. It's not at all right that you do not breathe a word about them to anyone, not even to your own soul, for fear of having to stand in judgment of yourself. I am willing to believe that at the beginning you did not realize what was happening; later, you doubted whether such things could be true; but now you know, and still you hold your tongues.”
About This Quote
Source Play: No Exit (Huis Clos) by Jean-Paul Sartre, 1944
The quote condemns societal silence on collective wrongdoing, urging personal accountability despite fear of self‑judgment.
In simple terms: People ignore crimes for fear of guilt.
Key Takeaway
Speak truth despite fear.
Themes
responsibility
morality
silence
guilt
courage
Mood
somber
reflective
urgent
Type
philosophical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal reflection
- public discourse
- justice advocacy
Key Concepts
existentialism
ethical accountability
social complicity
Questions to Reflect On
- What crimes are you ignoring?
- How does silence affect your integrity?
A Different Perspective
Silence can protect the guilty but harms the conscience.
![“[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)
