Complicity Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
“It would be much better if I could only stop thinking. Thoughts are the dullest things. Duller than flesh. They stretch out and there's no end to them and they leave a funny taste in the mouth. Then there are words, inside the thoughts, unfinished words, a sketchy sentence which constantly returns...It goes, it goes ... and there's no end to it. It's worse than the rest because I feel responsible and have complicity in it. For example, this sort of painful rumination: I exist, I am the one who keeps it up. I.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Nausea, 1938 (philosophical novel)
Ruminative thoughts can become oppressive, leading to a sense of responsibility for one's own mental loops.
In simple terms: Thoughts can trap you.
Key Takeaway
Break the cycle of rumination.
Themes
existentialism
mental health
responsibility
Mood
introspective
somber
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- mindfulness practice
- stress management
Key Concepts
rumination
self-awareness
psychological burden
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate productive reflection from harmful rumination?
- What strategies help you release mental loops?
A Different Perspective
Some thoughts are necessary for reflection; suppressing them can be harmful.
![“[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)
