Cowards Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
““We play the part of heroes because we're cowards, the part of saints because we're wicked: we play the killer's role because we're dying to murder our fellow: we play at being because we are liars from the moment we're born””
About This Quote
Source Play: No Exit, Jean-Paul Sartre, 1944
Humans adopt socially praised roles to hide their true, darker impulses, revealing inner contradictions.
In simple terms: People act heroically or saintly to mask their flaws.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and own your authentic self.
Themes
identity
hypocrisy
self_deception
Mood
reflective
critical
introspective
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- political leadership
- media portrayal
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
existentialism
bad_faith
role_playing
Questions to Reflect On
- What roles do you play to hide your true feelings?
- How does acknowledging flaws change behavior?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring inner truth can lead to self‑destruction and harm others.
![“[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)
