Two distinguished individuals have famously declined the prestigious Nobel Prize: Jean-Paul Sartre and Le Duc Tho. These are the only two winners who have voluntarily refused the honor.
The Nobel Prize is widely considered one of the highest global honors, recognizing extraordinary achievements in various fields. However, in rare instances, recipients have chosen to refuse the award, often for profound personal or political reasons.
Jean-Paul Sartre: The Literature Laureate Who Said No
Jean-Paul Sartre, the acclaimed French philosopher, playwright, and novelist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964. True to his lifelong principle of rejecting all official honors and institutions, Sartre voluntarily declined the prize. He famously stated that a writer should not allow himself to be "transformed" by such accolades, believing that accepting it would compromise his integrity as an independent intellectual and public figure.
Le Duc Tho: A Refusal for Peace
A decade later, in 1973, Le Duc Tho, a Vietnamese revolutionary, diplomat, and politician, was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. They were recognized for their efforts in negotiating the Paris Peace Accord, which aimed to end the Vietnam War. However, Le Duc Tho refused the award, citing that peace had not yet been truly established in Vietnam. His decision underscored the complex and unresolved nature of the conflict at the time.
To provide a clear overview, here are the individuals who have turned down a Nobel Prize:
| Individual | Year (Awarded) | Prize Category | Reason for Refusal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Paul Sartre | 1964 | Literature | Refused all official awards and institutions. |
| Le Duc Tho | 1973 | Peace | Stated that true peace had not yet been established. |
