--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To exist is to create your own life." description: "\"“To exist is to create your own life.”\" — Jean-Paul Sartre" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/jean-paul-sartre-220_create_to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life-2018_2018253.png" --- # To exist is to create your own life. ![“To exist is to create your own life.” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/jean-paul-sartre-220_create_to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life-2018_2018253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/jean-paul-sartre-220_create_to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life-2018_2018253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/jean-paul-sartre-220_create_to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life-2018_2018253.png) > ““To exist is to create your own life.”” [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; individuals must actively shape their own lives through choices and actions. **In simple terms:** You create your life by living it. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your own path. Themes existentialism self‑determination freedom Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - career planning - creative projects Key Concepts authenticity meaning agency Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your identity? - How can you act more authentically? A Different Perspective Living without purpose undermines fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Create Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-life/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Exist Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-create-1327937/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Pressure doesn't exist. We create it for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/pressure-doesn-t-exist-we-create-it-for-ourselves/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist, we create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/by-believing-passionately-in-something-that-does-not-yet-exist-we-2/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/by-believing-passionately-in-something-that-does-not-yet-exist-we/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [Open your mind to the infinite possibilities that exist for you; then create within your reality the things that you desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/open-your-mind-to-the-infinite-possibilities-that-exist-for-you-then/) [steven redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/by-believing-passionately-in-something-that-still-does-not-exist-we/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“What doesn’t exist you have to create yourself. Even a dream can be plucked out of your head and shaped for a purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/what-doesn-t-exist-you-have-to-create-yourself-even-a-dream-can-be/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [Believe passionately in something that still does not exist; You create it. Think nonexisting, 'what's not sufficiently been desired.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/believe-passionately-in-something-that-still-does-not-exist-you/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [By believing passionately in that which doesn't exist, you create it and that which has not been sufficiently desired is what we call the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/by-believing-passionately-in-that-which-doesn-t-exist-you-create-it/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [YOUR DREAM JOB DOES NOT EXIST. 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Only those things that can match our inner vibrational frequency can come into our life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vazhakunnathu/we-create-our-life-moment-by-moment-only-those-things-that-can-match/) [Thomas Vazhakunnathu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vazhakunnathu/) ## More by Jean-Paul Sartre > [There is no human nature, since there is no god to conceive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/there-is-no-human-nature-since-there-is-no-god-to-conceive-it/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“she has suddenly emptied herself of me, and all other consciousness in the world has also emptied itself of me. It seems funny. 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. First I lost the memory of her eyes, then the memory of her long body. I kept her smile as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/she-smiled-first-i-lost-the-memory-of-her-eyes-then-the-memory-of-her/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Life is a useless passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/life-is-a-useless-passion/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The more one is absorbed in fighting evil, the less one is tempted to place the good in question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-more-one-is-absorbed-in-fighting-evil-the-less-one-is-tempted-to/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [This is what I thought: for the most banal even to become an adventure, you must (and this is enough) begin to recount it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/this-is-what-i-thought-for-the-most-banal-even-to-become-an-adventure/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“I am free: there is absolutely no more reason for living, all the ones I have tried have given way and I can’t imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-am-free-there-is-absolutely-no-more-reason-for-living-all-the-ones/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“If I am not mistaken, if all the signs which have been amassed are precursors of a new overthrow in my life, well then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/if-i-am-not-mistaken-if-all-the-signs-which-have-been-amassed-are/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“I want to leave, go to some place where I will be really in my own niche, where I will fit in. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-want-to-leave-go-to-some-place-where-i-will-be-really-in-my-own/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The best work is not what is most difficult for you; it is what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-best-work-is-not-what-is-most-difficult-for-you-it-is-what-you-do/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) [Explore all 728 Jean-Paul Sartre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## More Create quotes > [As far as Vern and I go, we have had situations where people have tried to take photographs of me and cut Vernon out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/as-far-as-vern-and-i-go-we-have-had-situations-where-people-have/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [I'd take garbage, and I'd glue them together and create inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-d-take-garbage-and-i-d-glue-them-together-and-create-inventions/) [Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/) > [United Way works to create a safe and healthy home for everyone in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steward/united-way-works-to-create-a-safe-and-healthy-home-for-everyone-in/) [David Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steward/) > [Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/renewable-energy-could-reduce-emissions-but-also-create-jobs-and/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [“If I can create something unique in the world, so can you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scifurz/if-i-can-create-something-unique-in-the-world-so-can-you/) [SciFurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scifurz/) > [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [For a long time at Blackburn and at Fulham last season, I was playing on the right wing. I've never seen myself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cairney/for-a-long-time-at-blackburn-and-at-fulham-last-season-i-was-playing/) [Tom Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cairney/) > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) [Browse all 5,654 Create quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To exist is to create your own life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean-Paul Sartre" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Create" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/jean-paul-sartre-220_create_to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life-2018_2018253.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/jean-paul-sartre-220_create_to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life-2018_2018253.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/jean-paul-sartre-220_create_to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life-2018_2018253.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To exist is to create your own life.” — Jean-Paul Sartre", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean-Paul Sartre", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To exist is to create your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/to-exist-is-to-create-your-own-life/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```