--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a universe behind and before…" description: "\"There is a universe behind and before him. And the day is approaching when closing the last book on the last shelf on the far left; he will say to hims..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/jean-paul-sartre-220_behinds_there-is-a-universe-behind-and-before-hi_720978.png" --- # There is a universe behind and before him. And the day is… ![“There is a universe behind and before him. And the day is approaching when closing the last book on the last shelf on the far left; he will say to himself, "now what?” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/jean-paul-sartre-220_behinds_there-is-a-universe-behind-and-before-hi_720978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/jean-paul-sartre-220_behinds_there-is-a-universe-behind-and-before-hi_720978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/jean-paul-sartre-220_behinds_there-is-a-universe-behind-and-before-hi_720978.png) > “There is a universe behind and before him. And the day is approaching when closing the last book on the last shelf on the far left; he will say to himself, "now what?” [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Existence precedes essence; we confront an unknown future after completing life's narratives. **In simple terms:** Life ends, we face uncertainty. Key Takeaway Embrace the unknown after completion. Themes existentialism future uncertainty Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - career retirement - end of project - life transition - spiritual reflection Key Concepts meaning purpose existential dread Questions to Reflect On - What does "now what?" mean to you after finishing a major chapter? - How can you prepare for uncertainty? A Different Perspective The quote assumes a linear narrative, ignoring cyclical or ongoing experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [In order to be as free as I possibly can, in my own imagination, I can't take positions that are closed. 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Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/she-has-suddenly-emptied-herself-of-me-and-all-other-consciousness-in/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [ \[Stéphane Mallarmé\] theory of the hermetic is a mistake, but he can be only difficult to read when he has difficult things to say. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/st-phane-mallarm-theory-of-the-hermetic-is-a-mistake-but-he-can-be/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [I can always choose, but I ought to know that if I do not choose, I am still choosing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-can-always-choose-but-i-ought-to-know-that-if-i-do-not-choose-i-am/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/when-the-rich-wage-war-it-s-the-poor-who-die/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“She smiled. 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