Existence precedes essence. — Jean-Paul Sartre | Printable Wall Art

“Existence precedes essence.”

Words by Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) — French existentialist philosopher and writer.

About this quote

This principle forms the cornerstone of existentialist philosophy. Unlike a tool, which is designed with a purpose in mind before it is made, humans simply arrive in the world first. We have no predefined nature, purpose, or moral framework. Instead, we define who we are through the choices we make and the actions we take, bearing total responsibility for creating our own identity and meaning in life.

Jean-Paul Sartre stated this proposition during a public lecture in Paris in October 1945. It was published the following year in his essay Existentialism is a Humanism, becoming a key summary of mid-twentieth-century existentialist thought.

People often display this statement in a personal study or workspace to inspire individual autonomy and reflection.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.