One is still what one is going to cease to be and already what one is going to become. One lives one’s death, one dies one’s life.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Activist
We don’t exist unless we are deeply and sensually in touch with that which can be touched but not known.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Critic
The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
In the wild struggle for existance, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The existence of a man is so small a thing to take, so mighty a thing to employ.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
There is a totalitarian regime inside every one of us. We are ruled by a ruthless politburo which sets our norms and drives us from one five-year plan to another. The autonomous individual who has to justify his existence by his own efforts is in eternal bondage to himself.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm … to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
One has to abandon altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing. One needs a will stubborn in conflict, but apt always to total acceptance of every consequence of living and dying.
—Morris West (1916–99) Australian Novelist, Vatican Specialist
Only in men’s imagination does every truth find an effective and undeniable existence. Imagination, not invention, is the supreme master of art as of life.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
It is living and ceasing to live that are imaginary solutions. Existence is elsewhere.
—Andre Breton (1896–1966) French Poet, Essayist, Critic
Existence really is an imperfect tense that never becomes a present.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
In order to exist just once in the world, it is necessary never again to exist.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Novelist
Time is the most precious element of human existence. The successful person knows how to put energy into time and how to draw success from time.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
In the consciousness of the truth he has perceived, man now sees everywhere only the awfulness or the absurdity of existence and loathing seizes him.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The basic fact about human existence is not that it is a tragedy, but that it is a bore. It is not so much a war as an endless standing in line.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Fate is nothing but the deeds committed in a prior state of existence.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Hold it the greatest sin to prefer existence to honor, and for the sake of life to lose the reasons for living.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
To have his path made clear for him is the aspiration of every human being in our beclouded and tempestuous existence.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Let us be moral. Let us contemplate existence.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
There’s nothing that makes you so aware of the improvisation of human existence as a song unfinished. Or an old address book.
—Carson McCullers (1917–67) American Novelist
Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.
—Lu Xun (1881–1936) Chinese Writer
Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Existence itself does not feel horrible; it feels like an ecstasy, rather, which we have only to be still to experience.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
The ego exists because we go on pedalling desire, because we go on striving to get something, because we go on jumping ahead of ourselves.
—Sri Rajneesh (Osho) (1931–90) Indian Spiritual Teacher
The very purpose of existence is to reconcile the glowing opinion we hold of ourselves with the appalling things that other people think about us.
—Quentin Crisp (1908–99) English Actor, Artist, Raconteur
Every life is its own excuse for being.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The fact of God is necessary for the fact of man. Think God away and man has no ground of existence.
—A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) American Pastor, Author, Editor
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