It is certain that we cannot escape anguish, for we are anguish.

I discovered suddenly that alienation, exploitation of man by man, under-nourishment, relegated to the background metaphysical evil which is a luxury.

My pessimism has never been flabby.

Ah! How I hate the crimes of the new generation: they are dry and sterile as darnel.

[M]an is condemned to be free. Condemned, because he did not create himself, in other respect is free; because, once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. The Existentialist does not believe in the power of passion. He will never agree that a sweeping passion is a ravaging torrent which fatally leads a man to certain acts and is therefore an excuse. He thinks that man is responsible for his passion.

I found the human heart empty and insipid everywhere except in books.

I think of death only with tranquility, as an end. I refuse to let death hamper life. Death must enter life only to define it.