1910-1943, French Philosopher, Mystic
A doctrine serves no purpose in itself, but it is indispensable to have one if only to avoid being deceived by false doctrines.
Simone Weil – [Doctrine]


A hurtful act is the transference to others of the degradation which we bear in ourselves.
Simone Weil – [Injustice]


A man whose mind feels that it is captive would prefer to blind himself to the fact. But if he hates falsehood, he will not do so; and in that case he will have to suffer a lot. He will beat his head against the wall until he faints. He will come to again
Simone Weil – [Enlightenment]


A mind enclosed in language is in prison.
Simone Weil – [Language]


A self-respecting nation is ready for anything, including war, except for a renunciation of its option to make war.
Simone Weil – [War]


A test of what is real is that it is hard and rough. Joys are found in it, not pleasure. What is pleasant belongs to dreams.
Simone Weil – [Reality]


An atheist may be simply one whose faith and love are concentrated on the impersonal aspects of God.
Simone Weil – [Atheism]


Art is the symbol of the two noblest human efforts: to construct and to refrain from destruction.
Simone Weil – [Arts and Artists]


At the bottom of the heart of every human being, from earliest infancy until the tomb, there is something that goes on indomitably expecting, in the teeth of all experience of crimes committed, suffered, and witnessed, that good and not evil will be done
Simone Weil – [Goodness]


Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached.
Simone Weil – [Attachment]


Beauty always promises, but never gives anything.
Simone Weil – [Beauty]


Charity. To love human beings in so far as they are nothing. That is to love them as God does.
Simone Weil – [Charity]


Culture is an instrument wielded by teachers to manufacture teachers, who, in their turn, will manufacture still more teachers.
Simone Weil – [Culture]


Equality is the public recognition, effectively expressed in institutions and manners, of the principle that an equal degree of attention is due to the needs of all human beings.
Simone Weil – [Equality]


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]


Every perfect life is a parable invented by God.
Simone Weil – [Life and Living]


Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of envy.
Simone Weil – [Jesus Christ]


Evil being the root of mystery, pain is the root of knowledge.
Simone Weil – [Pain]


Evil is neither suffering nor sin; it is both at the same time, it is something common to them both. For they are linked together; sin makes us suffer and suffering makes us evil, and this indissoluble complex of suffering and sin is the evil in which we are submerged against our will, and to our horror.
Simone Weil – [Evil]


For when two beings who are not friends are near each other there is no meeting, and when friends are far apart there is no separation.
Simone Weil – [Friends and Friendship]

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