And yet we are told that femininity is in danger; we are exhorted to be women, remain women, become women. It would appear, then, that every female human being is not necessarily a woman; to be so considered she must share in that mysterious and threatened reality known as femininity. Is this attribute something secreted by the ovaries? Or is it Platonic essence, a product of the philosophic imagination? Is a rustling petticoat enough to bring it down to earth?
Simone de Beauvoir
Femininity Question, Gender Roles, Philosophical Identity, Feminist Inquiry, Social Constructs, Womanhood
Simone de Beauvoir’s Quotes On Topics
Intellectual Pursuits | Continuous Growth | Social Traditions | Spiritual Beliefs | Dynamics | Fate | Personal Drive | Life's Duality | Situation | Determination | Society | Surpassing Limits | Conflict | Nostalgic Reflection | Harmful Traditions | Decay Horror | Wisdom | Gender Anatomy | Atheism | Present Action | More
More Simone de Beauvoir Quotes
“In truth, to go for a walk with one’s eyes open is enough to demonstrate that humanity is divided into two classes of individuals whose clothes, faces, bodies, smiles, gaits, interests, and occupations are manifestly different. Perhaps these differences are superficial, perhaps they are destined to disappear. What is certain is that right now they do most obviously exist.” Simone de Beauvoir
Humanity Division, Manifest Differences, Individuals, Humanity, Division, Differences
Simone de Beauvoir Humanity Division, Manifest Differences, Individuals, Humanity, Division, Differences“Habit has a kind of poetry.” Simone de Beauvoir
Poetic Habit, Routine Reflection, Life Patterns, Daily Beauty, Habit, Poetry
Simone de Beauvoir Poetic Habit, Routine Reflection, Life Patterns, Daily Beauty, Habit, Poetry“Today I believe that, under the specially privileged conditions in which I exist, life contains two main truths which we must face simultaneously, and between which there is no choice – the joy of being, the horror of being no more.” Simone de Beauvoir
Existential Reflection, Life's Duality, Joy And Mortality, Human Existence, Reality, Acceptance
Simone de Beauvoir Existential Reflection, Life's Duality, Joy And Mortality, Human Existence, Reality, Acceptance“Self-knowledge is no guarantee of happiness, but it is on the side of happiness and can supply the courage to fight for it.” Simone de Beauvoir
Self-Knowledge, Happiness Quest, Inner Courage, Personal Insight, Reflection, Fulfillment
Simone de Beauvoir Self-Knowledge, Happiness Quest, Inner Courage, Personal Insight, Reflection, Fulfillment“People say you have to have faith because believing is irrational. So I end up thinking that the more irrational things seem, the more likely they are to be true.” Simone de Beauvoir
Irrational Belief, Faith Insight, Truth Reflection, Philosophy, Conviction, Faith
Simone de Beauvoir Irrational Belief, Faith Insight, Truth Reflection, Philosophy, Conviction, Faith“One has no right to make up one’s mind about the future in advance.” Simone de Beauvoir
Open Mindedness, Future Uncertainty, Adaptability, Flexibility, Possibilities, Change
Simone de Beauvoir Open Mindedness, Future Uncertainty, Adaptability, Flexibility, Possibilities, Change“The arrogance of some Christians would close heaven to them if, to their misfortune, it existed.” Simone de Beauvoir
Religious Arrogance, Spiritual Critique, Christian Views, Heaven And Humility, Faith Reflection, Existential Debate
Simone de Beauvoir Religious Arrogance, Spiritual Critique, Christian Views, Heaven And Humility, Faith Reflection, Existential Debate“All those minds that are interested in finding out the truth communicate with each other across the distances of space and time. I, too, was taking part in the effort which humanity makes to know.” Simone de Beauvoir
Truth Seekers, Shared Knowledge, Human Connection, Intellectual Effort, Universal Curiosity, Philosophical Inquiry
Simone de Beauvoir Truth Seekers, Shared Knowledge, Human Connection, Intellectual Effort, Universal Curiosity, Philosophical Inquiry“Between women love is contemplation; caresses are meant less to appropriate the other than to recreate oneself slowly through her; separation is eliminated, there is neither fight nor victory nor defeat; each one is both subject and object.” Simone de Beauvoir
Women’s Love, Mutual Reflection, Emotional Intimacy, Philosophical View, Connection Dynamics, Love Perspective
Simone de Beauvoir Women’s Love, Mutual Reflection, Emotional Intimacy, Philosophical View, Connection Dynamics, Love Perspective“The whole world was nothing but an exile with no hope of a return.” Simone de Beauvoir
Exile Reflection, Hopelessness, World View, Loss, Isolation, Reflection
Simone de Beauvoir Exile Reflection, Hopelessness, World View, Loss, Isolation, Reflection“Anyway I know only too well that all life is nothing but a brief reprieve from death.” Simone de Beauvoir
Life Mortality, Death Reflection, Temporary Existence, Existential Truth, Mortality, Existence
Simone de Beauvoir Life Mortality, Death Reflection, Temporary Existence, Existential Truth, Mortality, Existence“There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.” Simone de Beauvoir
City Energy, New York Life, Sleepless Nights, Urban Dynamism, Atmospheric Vibes, Modern Experiences
Simone de Beauvoir City Energy, New York Life, Sleepless Nights, Urban Dynamism, Atmospheric Vibes, Modern Experiences“Literature takes its revenge on reality by making it the slave of fiction...” Simone de Beauvoir
Fiction Revenge, Literary Power, Reality Control, Creative Imagination, Fiction, Reality
Simone de Beauvoir Fiction Revenge, Literary Power, Reality Control, Creative Imagination, Fiction, Reality“If I were the earth it would disgust me, all this vermin on my back, I’d shake it off.” Simone de Beauvoir
Earth Disgust, Vermin Reflection, Global Burden, Planet Contempt, Earth, Disgust
Simone de Beauvoir Earth Disgust, Vermin Reflection, Global Burden, Planet Contempt, Earth, Disgust“Sign of old age: distress at all leave-takings, all separations. And the sadness of memories, because I’m aware they’re condemned to death.” Simone de Beauvoir
Aging Sadness, Memory Reflection, Separation Pain, Nostalgic Grief, Sadness, Aging
Simone de Beauvoir Aging Sadness, Memory Reflection, Separation Pain, Nostalgic Grief, Sadness, Aging“Cooking is revolution and creation...” Simone de Beauvoir
Culinary Art, Creative Revolution, Cooking, Revolution, Creation, Art
Simone de Beauvoir Culinary Art, Creative Revolution, Cooking, Revolution, Creation, Art“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
Life Awareness, Inner Strength, Genuine Reflection, Purpose, Resilience
Simone de Beauvoir Life Awareness, Inner Strength, Genuine Reflection, Purpose, Resilience“Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus than housework, with its endless repetition: the clean becomes soiled, the soiled is made clean, over and over, day after day.” Simone de Beauvoir
Housework Repetition, Sisyphus Analogy, Domestic Labor, Cyclical Tasks, Everyday Struggles, Feminist Perspective
Simone de Beauvoir Housework Repetition, Sisyphus Analogy, Domestic Labor, Cyclical Tasks, Everyday Struggles, Feminist Perspective