In particular those who are condemned to stagnation are often pronounced happy on the pretext that happiness consists in being at rest. This notion we reject, for our perspective is that of existentialist ethics. Every subject plays his part as such specifically through exploits or projects that serve as a mode of transcendence; he achieves liberty only through a continual reaching out towards other liberties. There is no justification for present existence other than its expansion into an indefinitely open future. Every time transcendence falls back into immanence, stagnation, there is a degradation of existence into the ‘en-sois’ — the brutish life of subjection to given conditions — and of liberty into constraint and contingence. This downfall represents a moral fault if the subject consents to it; if it is inflicted upon him, it spells frustration and oppression. In both cases it is an absolute evil. Every individual concerned to justify his existence feels that his existence involves an undefined need to transcend himself, to engage in freely chosen projects. Simone De Beauvoir
About This Quote

This quote is a little more technical in nature, but it does bring up an interesting point. We are all constantly reaching out into the future to find new things, new experiences, new forms of happiness that will help us grow. The problem with stagnation is that when we are stuck in our current life, the only thing we can do is allow ourselves to become stagnant. Even if you are married and have children, you can still reach out for something greater than what you have now.

If you sit around and do nothing but work your current job, all you will achieve is a lower standard of living than if you were to take risks and try something new. For example, if you were to decide to go back to school and get a new degree, your income would increase greatly. At this point in time, many people are stuck in the sense that they cannot change their situations.

They choose what they feel is safe over something greater. However, this quote reminds us that even if we do not get exactly what we want right now, there still needs to be hope for the future.

Source: The Second Sex

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More Quotes By Simone De Beauvoir
  1. 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.
  2. One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, and compassion
  3. 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)
  4. I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. I want this adventure that is the context of my life to go on without end.
  5. I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life. I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write good books, to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to...
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