What do we mean by saying that existence precedes essence? We mean that man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world-and defines himself afterward.

This is what I mean when I say that man is condemned to be free: condemned, because he did not create himself, yet nonetheless free, because once cast into the world, he is responsible for everything that he does.

Jupiter: I am not your king, impudent larva? Who then has created you?Orestes: You. But you should not have created me free.

I am therefore responsible for myself and for everyone else, and I am fashioning a certain image of man as I choose him to be In choosing myself, I choose man.