“For an occurrence to become an adventure, it is necessary and sufficient for one to recount it.”
- June 21, 1905 – April 15, 1980
- Born in France
- Philosopher, novelist, playwright
- He advocated existentialism and had a major influence on 20th century thought through works such as “Being and Nothingness” and “Nausea”
table of contents
Quote
“For an occurrence to become an adventure, it is necessary and sufficient for one to recount it.”
Explanation
In this quote, Sartre emphasizes the importance of storytelling in shaping our experiences and how we interpret them. He suggests that an event or occurrence only becomes an adventure when it is recounted—when it is given a narrative structure or meaning through the act of telling it. In other words, an experience doesn’t inherently hold the qualities of an adventure, but it gains significance and excitement once we reflect on it and share it with others. The act of recounting allows us to frame an event in a way that makes it feel like a meaningful journey or discovery, even if the event itself was ordinary or unremarkable.
Sartre’s existentialist philosophy underscores that meaning is not inherent in the world; rather, it is something we create through our actions and interpretations. The adventure is not in the event itself, but in how we choose to recount it. This reflects the freedom we have in constructing our own narratives and shaping how we understand and engage with the world. By narrating an experience, we transform it into something more significant, framing it as an adventure, a challenge, or a story with value.
In modern contexts, this quote can be applied to how we define and share our lives. With the rise of social media, the act of recounting has become a central way of giving meaning to experiences, turning even mundane moments into adventures by framing them in a particular way. Sartre’s insight reminds us that the value of our experiences often lies not in what actually happens, but in how we choose to interpret and narrate them. It invites us to reflect on our own lives, recognizing that we have the power to make even ordinary events feel like important adventures by the way we tell them.
