Simone de Beauvoir Quotes


Sex pleasure in woman is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken. Simone de Beauvoir Sex 189
On ne naît pas femme: on le devient. Simone de Beauvoir Biology 167
I am too intelligent too demanding and too resourceful for anyone to be able to take charge of me entirely. No one knows me or loves me completely. I have only myself Simone de Beauvoir Feminism 163
I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom. Simone de Beauvoir Life 121
Society cares for the individual only so far as he is profitable. Simone de Beauvoir Society 119
Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with the absolute truth. Simone de Beauvoir Absolute 104
When an individual is kept in a situation of inferiority, the fact is that he does become inferior. Simone de Beauvoir Women 103
The most mediocre of males feels himself a demigod as compared with women. Simone de Beauvoir Equality 93
If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat. Simone de Beauvoir Victory 89
In order for the artist to have a world to express he must first be situated in this world, oppressed or oppressing, resigned or rebellious, a man among men. Simone de Beauvoir Art 86
Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and in surpassing itself. If all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying. Simone de Beauvoir Challenge 86
It is old age, rather than death, that is to be contrasted with life. Old age is life's parody, whereas death transforms life into a destiny: in a way it preserves it by giving it the absolute dimension. Death does away with time. Simone de Beauvoir Age 84
In itself, homosexuality is as limiting as heterosexuality: the ideal should be to be capable of loving a woman or a man; either, a human being, without feeling fear, restraint, or obligation. Simone de Beauvoir Being 82
Art is an attempt to integrate evil. Simone de Beauvoir Art 81
One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius. Simone de Beauvoir Genius 77
The writer of originality, unless dead, is always shocking, scandalous; novelty disturbs and repels. Simone de Beauvoir Uncategorized 73
Today however we are having a hard time living because we are so bent on outwitting death. Simone de Beauvoir Existentialism 72
There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless. Simone de Beauvoir New york city 71
To catch a husband is an art to hold him is a job. Simone de Beauvoir art 71
What is an adult? A child blown up by age. Simone de Beauvoir Age 69
Two separate beings in different circumstances face to face in freedom and seeking justification of their existence through one another will always live an adventure full of risk and promise. p. 248 Simone de Beauvoir Feminism 66
All oppression creates a state of war. Simone de Beauvoir Oppression 66
In the face of an obstacle which is impossible to overcome, stubbornness is stupid. Simone de Beauvoir Stubbornness 66
No one is more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or scornful, than the man who is anxious about his virility. Simone de Beauvoir Uncategorized 66
Since it is the Other within us who is old, it is natural that the revelation of our age should come to us from outside --from others. We do not accept it willingly. Simone de Beauvoir Age 64
Art is an attempt to integrate evil. Simone de Beauvoir art 61
On the day when it will be possible for woman to love not in her weakness but in strength, not to escape herself but to find herself, not to abase herself but to assert herself -- on that day love will become for her, as for man, a source of life... Simone de Beauvoir Men 60
Buying is a profound pleasure. Simone de Beauvoir Shopping 59
Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay. Simone de Beauvoir Change 59
Let women be provided with living strength of their own. Let them have the means to attack the world and wrest from it their own subsistence, and their dependence will be abolished -- that of man also. Simone de Beauvoir Men 59
Why one man rather than another? It was odd. You find yourself involved with a fellow for life just because he was the one that you met when you were nineteen. Simone de Beauvoir Another 58
Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female – whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male. Simone de Beauvoir Uncategorized 57
Une thique vritablement socialiste cestnbspdire qui cherche la justice sans supprimer la libert qui impose aux individus des charges mais sans abolir lindividualit se trouvera fort embarrasse par les problmes que pose la condition de la femme. Simone de Beauvoir Feminism 56
It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living. Simone de Beauvoir Inspirational 56
Retirement may be looked upon either as a prolonged holiday or as a rejection, a being thrown on to the scrap-heap. Simone de Beauvoir Retirement 54
...counselling man to treat her as a slave while persuading her that she is a queen. Simone de Beauvoir Feminism 53
Lgislateurs prtres philosophes crivains savants se sont acharns nbsp dmontrer que la condition subordonne de la femme tait voulue dans le ciel et profitable nbsp la terre. Simone de Beauvoir Feminism 53
When I was a child when I was an adolescent books saved me from despair that convinced me that culture was the highest of values.... Simone de Beauvoir Culture 52
The curse which lies upon marriage is that too often the individuals are joined in their weakness rather than in their strength -- each asking from the other instead of finding pleasure in giving. Simone de Beauvoir Marriage 52
Thats what I consider true generosity You give your all and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing. Simone de Beauvoir Charity 51
One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman. Simone de Beauvoir Becomes 51
All the idols made by man, however terrifying they may be, are in point of fact subordinate to him, and that is why he will always have it in his power to destroy them. Simone de Beauvoir Power 50
The ideal of happiness has always taken material form in the house, whether cottage or castle; it stands for permanence and separation from the world. Simone de Beauvoir Home 49
I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth - and truth rewarded me. Simone de Beauvoir Truth 49
Weakness is weakness only in light of the aims man sets for himself the instruments at his disposal and the laws he imposes. Simone de Beauvoir Men 48
One is not born a woman, but becomes one. Simone de Beauvoir Becomes 47
...indeed no one is more arrogant towards women more aggressive or scornful than the man who is anxious about his virility. Simone de Beauvoir Feminism 47
Defending the truth is not something one does out of a sense of duty or to allay guilt complexes, but is a reward in itself. Simone de Beauvoir Guilt 46
One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion. Simone de Beauvoir Friend 44
Every war every revolution demands the sacrifice of a generation of a collectivity by those who undertake it. Simone de Beauvoir Existentialism 44

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