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Simone Weil Quotes - Page 12

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The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded upon the spirituality of work.

The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded upon the spirituality of work.

Simone Weil
Lying, Greatness, Civilization
"The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind".

To be innocent is to bear the weight of the entire universe. It is to throw away the counterweight.

Simone Weil
Weight, Bears, Innocent
Simone Weil (2002). “Gravity and Grace”, p.91, Psychology Press

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
Men, Europe, People

Men owe us what we imagine they will give us. We must forgive them this debt.

Simone Weil
Men, Giving, Debt
Simone Weil (2002). “Gravity and Grace”, p.9, Psychology Press

Affliction hardens and discourages us because, like a red hot iron, it stamps the soul to its very depths with the scorn, the disgust, and even the self-hatred and sense of guilt that crime logically should produce but actually does not.

Simone Weil
Self, Iron, Hatred
Simone Weil (2009). “Waiting on God (Routledge Revivals)”, p.40, Routledge

If we concentrate our attention on trying to solve a problem of geometry, and if at the end of an hour we are no nearer to doing so than at the beginning, we have nevertheless been making progress each minute of that hour in another more mysterious dimension. Without knowing or feeling it, this apparent barren affort has brought more light into the soul.

Simone Weil
Light, Knowing, Soul
Simone Weil (2009). “Waiting on God (Routledge Revivals)”, p.32, Routledge

All those who possess in its pure state the love of their neighbour and the acceptance of the order of the world, inclucing affliction-all those, even should they live and die to all appearances atheists, are surely saved.

Simone Weil
Atheist, Acceptance, Order

Education-whether its object be children or adults, individuals or an entire people-consists in creating motives.

Simone Weil
Education, Children, Creating

When science, art, literature, and philosophy are simply the manifestation of personality, they are on a level where glorious and dazzling achievements are possible, which can make a man's name live for thousands of years. But above this level, far above, separated by an abyss, is the level where the highest things are achieved. These things are essentially anonymous.

Simone Weil
Art, Philosophy, Science
Simone Weil (2015). “Selected Essays, 1934-1943: Historical, Political, and Moral Writings”, p.13, Wipf and Stock Publishers

No human being escapes the necessity of conceiving some good outside himself towards which his thought turns in a movement of desire, supplication, and hope.

Simone Weil
Inspirational, Desire, Movement
Simone Weil (1970). “First and last notebooks”

One does not play Bach without having done scales. But neither does one play a scale merely for the sake of the scale.

Simone Weil
Life, Happiness, Play
Simone Weil (2002). “Gravity and Grace”, p.124, Psychology Press

What hope is there for innocence if it is not recognized?

Simone Weil
Innocence, Ifs
Simone Weil (2002). “Gravity and Grace”, p.136, Psychology Press

Love consents to all and commands only those who consent. Love is abdication. God is abdication.

Simone Weil
Love Is, Abdication, Command

Death. An instantaneous state, without past or future. Indispensable for entering eternity.

Simone Weil
Past, Entering, Eternity
Simone Weil (2002). “Gravity and Grace”, p.37, Psychology Press

Science is voiceless; it is the scientists who talk.

Simone Weil
Science, Voiceless, Scientist
"On Science, Necessity, and the Love of God". Book by Simone Weil, Translated by R. Rees, "Reflections on quantum theory," p. 57, 1968.

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
Inspirational, Motivational, Respect

The speed with which bureaucracy has invaded almost every branch of human activity is something astounding once one thinks about it.

Simone Weil
Thinking, Branches, Speed
Simone Weil (2013). “Oppression and Liberty”, p.13, Routledge

The beautiful is the experimental proof that the incarnation is possible.

Simone Weil
Beautiful, Proof, Incarnation
Simone Weil (2013). “The Notebooks of Simone Weil”, p.440, Routledge

The poet produces the beautiful by fixing his attention on something real.

Simone Weil
Beautiful, Real, Work
Simone Weil (2002). “Gravity and Grace”, p.119, Psychology Press

Beauty always promises, but never gives anything.

Simone Weil
Beauty, Pretty Girl, Giving
Simone Weil (2015). “Selected Essays, 1934-1943: Historical, Political, and Moral Writings”, p.29, Wipf and Stock Publishers

Contradiction itself, far from always being a criterion of error, is sometimes a sign of truth.

Simone Weil
Errors, Perspective, Sometimes
Simone Weil (2013). “Oppression and Liberty”, p.164, Routledge

One must always be ready to change sides with justice, that fugitive from the winning camp.

Simone Weil
Winning, Justice, Sides

prayer consists of attention. It is the orientation of all the attention of which the soul is capable towards God. The quality of the attention counts for much in the quality of the prayer. Warmth of heart cannot make up for it.

Simone Weil
Prayer, Heart, Soul
Simone Weil (2009). “Waiting on God (Routledge Revivals)”, p.32, Routledge

The simultaneous existence of opposite virtues in the soul like pincers to catch hold of God.

Simone Weil
Opposites, Soul, Virtue
Simone Weil (2002). “Gravity and Grace”, p.102, Psychology Press

Friendship is a miracle by which a person consents to view from a certain distance, without coming any nearer, the very being who is as necessary to him as food.

Simone Weil
Friendship, Distance, Views
Simone Weil (2009). “Waiting on God (Routledge Revivals)”, p.78, Routledge

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