To set up as a standard of public morality a notion which can neither be defined nor conceived is to open the door to every kind of tyranny.
Simone Weil
Morality, Tyranny, Public Standards, Undefined Concepts, Societal Control, Ethical Ambiguity
Simone Weil’s Quotes On Topics
Epistemology | Scientific Method | Humble Reflection | Ethical Insight | Spiritual Desire | Moral Awareness | Dehumanization | Time | Spiritual Exception | Conservatism | Divine Truth | Societal Control | Pure Love | Experience | Contradictions | Power Dynamics | Fulfillment | Moral Foundation | Long-Distance Bond | Inner Divinity | More
More Simone Weil Quotes
“Creative attention means really giving our attention to what does not exist.” Simone Weil
Creativity, Attention, Imagination, Innovation, Artistic Process, Cognitive Ability
Simone Weil Creativity, Attention, Imagination, Innovation, Artistic Process, Cognitive Ability“When we see the world, the image we see is not only a reflection of the world, it is also a reflection of us.” Simone Weil
Perception, Self-reflection, World View, Human Nature, Philosophical Insight, Psychological Concept
Simone Weil Perception, Self-reflection, World View, Human Nature, Philosophical Insight, Psychological Concept“The sea is not less beautiful in our eyes because we know that sometimes ships are wrecked by it.” Simone Weil
Sea, Beauty, Danger, Perception, Natural World, Human Perspective
Simone Weil Sea, Beauty, Danger, Perception, Natural World, Human Perspective“In the Church, considered as a social organism, the mysteries inevitably degenerate into beliefs.” Simone Weil
Church Insight, Social Reflection, Faith Mysteries, Religious Belief, Institutional Analysis, Sacred Depth
Simone Weil Church Insight, Social Reflection, Faith Mysteries, Religious Belief, Institutional Analysis, Sacred Depth“There is an easiness in salvation which is more difficult to us than all our efforts.” Simone Weil
Effortless Salvation, Human Resistance, Spiritual Ease, Salvation, Human Struggle, Spirituality
Simone Weil Effortless Salvation, Human Resistance, Spiritual Ease, Salvation, Human Struggle, Spirituality“We should desire neither the immortality nor the death of any human being, whoever he may be, with whom we have to do.” Simone Weil
Human Mortality, Balanced Desire, Ethical Choices, Immortality, Compassion, Human Values
Simone Weil Human Mortality, Balanced Desire, Ethical Choices, Immortality, Compassion, Human Values“Our science is like a store filled with the most subtle intellectual devices for solving the most complex problems, and yet we are almost incapable of applying the elementary principles of rational thought.” Simone Weil
Science Paradox, Rational Application, Intellectual Challenges, Science, Rationality, Complexity
Simone Weil Science Paradox, Rational Application, Intellectual Challenges, Science, Rationality, Complexity“Human existence is so fragile a thing and exposed to such dangers that I cannot love without trembling.” Simone Weil
Existence, Fragility, Love, Danger, Emotional Vulnerability, Human Condition
Simone Weil Existence, Fragility, Love, Danger, Emotional Vulnerability, Human Condition“One must always be ready to change sides with justice, that fugitive from the winning camp.” Simone Weil
Justice Reflection, Moral Courage, Changing Sides, Ethical Choices, Human Integrity, Societal Insight
Simone Weil Justice Reflection, Moral Courage, Changing Sides, Ethical Choices, Human Integrity, Societal Insight“Desire is impossible: it destroys its object. Lovers cannot be one, nor can Narcissus be two. Don Juan, Narcissus. Because to desire something is impossible, we have to desire what is nothing.” Simone Weil
Desire Paradox, Love Analysis, Narcissus Reflection, Unattainable Desires, Inner Conflict, True Yearning
Simone Weil Desire Paradox, Love Analysis, Narcissus Reflection, Unattainable Desires, Inner Conflict, True Yearning“The Great Beast is the only object of idolatry, the only ersatz of God, the only imitation of something which is infinitely far from me and which is I myself.” Simone Weil
Idolatry, Divinity, Self, Spirituality, Human Nature, Philosophical Paradox
Simone Weil Idolatry, Divinity, Self, Spirituality, Human Nature, Philosophical Paradox“The full expression of personality depends upon its being inflated by social prestige; it is a social privilege.” Simone Weil
Personality, Prestige, Social, Expression Dependency, Human Identity, Privilege
Simone Weil Personality, Prestige, Social, Expression Dependency, Human Identity, Privilege“It is human misery and not pleasure which contains the secret of the divine wisdom.” Simone Weil
Misery, Pleasure, Wisdom, Human Condition, Divine Secrets, Spiritual Reflection
Simone Weil Misery, Pleasure, Wisdom, Human Condition, Divine Secrets, Spiritual Reflection“Contradiction itself, far from always being a criterion of error, is sometimes a sign of truth.” Simone Weil
Contradiction, Truth, Error, Spiritual Paradox, Human Insight, Logical Reflection
Simone Weil Contradiction, Truth, Error, Spiritual Paradox, Human Insight, Logical Reflection“The Gospels: God’s perfection consists in non-intervention.” Simone Weil
Gospels, Perfection, Non-Intervention, Divine Nature, Spiritual Ideals, Sacred Texts
Simone Weil Gospels, Perfection, Non-Intervention, Divine Nature, Spiritual Ideals, Sacred Texts“We can only know one thing about God – that he is what we are not. Our wretchedness alone is an image of this. The more we contemplate it, the more we contemplate him.” Simone Weil
God, Human Nature, Contemplation, Divine Otherness, Spiritual Reflection, Self-awareness
Simone Weil God, Human Nature, Contemplation, Divine Otherness, Spiritual Reflection, Self-awareness“Science is voiceless; it is the scientists who talk.” Simone Weil
Science, Voiceless, Scientists, Interpretation, Human Influence, Knowledge Expression
Simone Weil Science, Voiceless, Scientists, Interpretation, Human Influence, Knowledge Expression“Contemplating an object fixedly with the mind, asking myself, ‘What is it?’ without thinking of any other object or relating it to anything else for hours on end.” Simone Weil
Object, Mind, Contemplation, Focused Thought, Self-Reflection, Mental Discipline
Simone Weil Object, Mind, Contemplation, Focused Thought, Self-Reflection, Mental Discipline