Money Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
““When I was little, my Aunt Bigeois told me "If you look at yourself too long in the mirror, you'll see a monkey." I must have looked at myself even longer than that: what I see is well below the monkey, on the fringe of the vegetable world, at the level of jellyfish... The eyes especially are horrible seen so close. They are glassy, soft, blind, red-rimmed, they look like fish scales... A silky white down covers the great slopes of the cheeks, two hairs protrude from the nostrils: it is a geological embossed map. And, in spite of everything, this lunar world is familiar to me. I cannot say I recognize the details. But the whole thing gives me an impression of something seen before which stupefies me.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Nausea, 1938
The narrator feels alienated from his own body, seeing it as a strange, animal-like entity, reflecting existential self‑estrangement.
In simple terms: Feeling detached from one's own physical self.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and accept bodily imperfections.
Themes
existentialism
self‑perception
alienation
Mood
conflicted
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- mindfulness practice
- body‑positive workshops
Key Concepts
body image
identity
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing yourself as “other” affect your daily life?
- What practices help you reconnect with your body?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure practical self‑care steps.
![“[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)
