Every new development for the last three centuries has brought men closer to a state of affairs in which absolutely nothing would be recognized in the whole world as possessing a claim to obedience except the authority of the State. The majority of people in Europe obey nothing else.
Simone Weil
State Power, Obedience, Historical Development, Political Philosophy, Social Critique, Individual Autonomy
Simone Weil’s Quotes On Topics
Submissive Strength | Gratitude Balance | Belief Systems | Music | Love Direction | Moral Evolution | Serenity | Growing Doubts | Human Worship | Dehumanization | Future And Present | Risk | Divine Presence | Crime | Social Alienation | Intellectual Humility | Epistemology | Educational Value | Self-Love | Overcoming Affliction | More
More Simone Weil Quotes
“There is something in our soul that loathes true attention much more violently than flesh loathes fatigue. That something is much closer to evil than flesh is. That is why, every time we truly give our attention, we destroy some evil in ourselves. If one pays attention with this intention, fifteen minutes of attention is worth a lot of good works.” Simone Weil
Attention, Evil, Self-improvement, Spirituality, Moral Growth, Human Nature
Simone Weil Attention, Evil, Self-improvement, Spirituality, Moral Growth, Human Nature“The supernatural virtue of justice consists of behaving exactly as though there were equality when one is the stronger in an unequal relationship.” Simone Weil
Justice, Equality, Virtue, Morality, Social Relationships, Ethical Behavior
Simone Weil Justice, Equality, Virtue, Morality, Social Relationships, Ethical Behavior“If you want to know what a man is really like, take notice of how he acts when he loses money.” Simone Weil
Character, Money, Human Nature, Adversity, Moral Test, Psychological Insight
Simone Weil Character, Money, Human Nature, Adversity, Moral Test, Psychological Insight“Truth is one, but error is manifold.” Simone Weil
Truth, Error, Philosophy, Knowledge, Human Perception, Wisdom
Simone Weil Truth, Error, Philosophy, Knowledge, Human Perception, Wisdom“God is not present, even if we invoke him, where the afflicted are merely regarded as an occasion for doing good. They may even be loved on this account, but then they are in their natural role, the role of matter and of things. We have to bring to them in their inert, anonymous condition a personal love... In true love it is not we who love the afflicted in God; it is God in us who loves them.” Simone Weil
God, Love, Affliction, Presence, Divine Love, Personal Connection
Simone Weil God, Love, Affliction, Presence, Divine Love, Personal Connection“No matter what the circumstances, the worst betrayal will always be to subordinate ourselves to this apparatus and to trample underfoot, in its service, all human values in ourselves and in others.” Simone Weil
Betrayal, Apparatus, Values, Human Spirit, Circumstances, Moral Compromise
Simone Weil Betrayal, Apparatus, Values, Human Spirit, Circumstances, Moral Compromise“Workers need poetry more than bread. They need that their life should be a poem. They need some light from eternity. Religion alone can be the source of such poetry.” Simone Weil
Spirituality, Work, Poetry, Human Needs, Transcendence, Religious Philosophy
Simone Weil Spirituality, Work, Poetry, Human Needs, Transcendence, Religious Philosophy“Only an indirect method is effective. We do nothing if we have not first drawn back.” Simone Weil
Indirect Approach, Effective Methods, Reflection, Indirection, Effectiveness, Patience
Simone Weil Indirect Approach, Effective Methods, Reflection, Indirection, Effectiveness, Patience“There are only two sorts of greatness: true greatness, which is of a spiritual order, and the old, old lie of world conquest. Conquest is an ersatz greatness.” Simone Weil
Greatness, Spirituality, Conquest, Ambition, Human Values, Moral Philosophy
Simone Weil Greatness, Spirituality, Conquest, Ambition, Human Values, Moral Philosophy“Every kind of reward constitutes a degradation of energy.” Simone Weil
Reward And Energy, Degrading Exchange, Effort Worth, Reward, Energy, Degradation
Simone Weil Reward And Energy, Degrading Exchange, Effort Worth, Reward, Energy, Degradation“Someone who does not see a pane of glass is not aware of not seeing it.” Simone Weil
Perception, Awareness, Ignorance, Philosophical Insight, Human Cognition, Metaphor
Simone Weil Perception, Awareness, Ignorance, Philosophical Insight, Human Cognition, Metaphor“When a contradiction is impossible to resolve except by a lie, then we know that it is really a door.” Simone Weil
Contradiction, Truth, Deception, Insight, Philosophical Paradox, Personal Growth
Simone Weil Contradiction, Truth, Deception, Insight, Philosophical Paradox, Personal Growth“Why is the determination to fight against a prejudice a sure sign that one is full of it? Such a determination necessarily arises from an obsession. It constitutes an utterly sterile effort to get rid of it. In such a case the light of attention is the only thing which is effective, and it is not compatible with a polemical intention.” Simone Weil
Prejudice Fight, Sterile Efforts, Effective Attention, Prejudice, Obsession, Attention
Simone Weil Prejudice Fight, Sterile Efforts, Effective Attention, Prejudice, Obsession, Attention“The afflicted are not listened to. They are like someone whose tongue has been cut out and who occasionally forgets the fact. When they move their lips no ear perceives any sound. And they themselves soon sink into impotence in the use of language, because of the certainty of not being heard.” Simone Weil
Affliction, Communication, Societal Neglect, Human Suffering, Empathy, Social Critique
Simone Weil Affliction, Communication, Societal Neglect, Human Suffering, Empathy, Social Critique“Suffering: superiority of man over God. The Incarnation was necessary so that this superiority should not be scandalous.” Simone Weil
Suffering, Divinity, Incarnation, Theology, Human Condition, Religious Philosophy
Simone Weil Suffering, Divinity, Incarnation, Theology, Human Condition, Religious Philosophy“More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact that every layman considers himself a valid critic.” Simone Weil
Acting, Criticism, Art Appreciation, Public Opinion, Artistic Value, Cultural Perception
Simone Weil Acting, Criticism, Art Appreciation, Public Opinion, Artistic Value, Cultural Perception“All the natural movements of the soul are controlled by laws analogous to those of physical gravity. Grace is the only exception.” Simone Weil
Soul, Gravity, Grace, Natural Laws, Spiritual Exception, Divine Force
Simone Weil Soul, Gravity, Grace, Natural Laws, Spiritual Exception, Divine Force“An atheist may be simply one whose faith and love are concentrated on the impersonal aspects of God.” Simone Weil
Atheism, Faith, Divinity, Spiritual Paradox, Religious Philosophy, Human Perception
Simone Weil Atheism, Faith, Divinity, Spiritual Paradox, Religious Philosophy, Human Perception