Existence precedes and rules essence.
• Part 4, chapter 1
• Part 4, chapter 1
“
L'existence précède et commande l'essence.
— Jean-Paul Sartre
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "L'existence précède et commande l'essence." in the context of "Existence precedes and rules essence.
• Part 4, chapter 1" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Jean-Paul Sartre" (Quotes, Being and Nothingness (1943): L'être et le néant (Being and Nothingness))
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980), normally known simply as Jean-Paul Sartre, was a French existentialist philosopher, dramatist and screenwriter, novelist, and critic. He had an enduring personal relationship with fellow philosopher Simone de Beauvoir.
About Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980), normally known simply as Jean-Paul Sartre, was a French existentialist philosopher, dramatist and screenwriter, novelist, and critic. He had an enduring personal relationship with fellow philosopher Simone de Beauvoir.
View all quotes →