Home / Quotes / Quote by Simone Weil

Quote by Simone Weil

“Science is voiceless; it is the scientists who talk.”

Quote by Simone Weil

Author

Simone Weil was a French philosopher, social activist, and writer. Born on February 3, 1909, and died on August 24, 1943, Weil is known for her profound philosophical thinking and her passionate commitment to social justice. Her works have had a significant impact on later philosophers and social thinkers. more

You May Also Like

“Concern for the symbol has completely disappeared from our science . And yet, if one were to give oneself the trouble, one could easily find, in certain parts at least of contemporary mathematics... symbols as clear, as beautiful, and as full of spiritual meaning as that of the circle and mediation. From modern thought to ancient wisdom the path would be short and direct, if one cared to take it.”

Source: The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind

“Religion in so far as it is a source of consolation is a hindrance to true faith ; and in this sense atheism is a purification. I have to be an atheist with that part of myself which is not made for God. Among those in whom the supernatural part of themselves has not been awakened, the atheists are right and the believers wrong.”

Made Faith Atheism Source Atheist Believer Consolation Awakened Hindrance Purification True Faith

Book:The Notebooks of Simone Weil

Source: The Notebooks of Simone Weil

“Capitalism has brought about the emancipation of collective humanity with respect to nature. But this collective humanity has itself taken on with respect to the individual the oppressive function formerly exercised by nature.”

Humanity Individual Taken Capitalism Function Collectives Emancipation

Book:Gravity and Grace

Source: Gravity and Grace

“Conformity is an imitation of grace.”

Grace Conformity Imitation

Book:Gravity and Grace

Source: Gravity and Grace

“We must wish either for that which actually exists or for that which cannot in any way exist or, still better, for both. That which is and that which cannot be are both outside the realm of becoming.”

Way Stills Wish Becoming Realms

Book:Gravity and Grace

Source: Gravity and Grace

“There is nothing that comes closer to true humility than the intelligence. It is impossible to feel pride in one's intelligence at the moment when one really and truly exercises it.”

Feels Moments Impossible Humility Pride Exercise True Humility

Book:The Notebooks of Simone Weil

Source: The Notebooks of Simone Weil

“Gregorian chant, Romanesque architecture, the Iliad , the invention of geometry were not, for the people through whom they were brought into being and made available to us, occasions for the manifestation of personality.”

People Made Personality Available Architecture Invention Occasions Manifestation Geometry Iliad

Book:Selected Essays, 1934-1943: Historical, Political, and Moral Writings

Source: Selected Essays, 1934-1943: Historical, Political, and Moral Writings

“The notion of rights is linked with the notion of sharing out, of exchange, of measured quantity. It has a commercial flavor, essentially evocative of legal claims and arguments. Rights are always asserted in a tone of contention; and when this tone is adopted, it must rely upon force in the background, or else it will be laughed at.”

Force Rights Argument Claims Notion Backgrounds Tone Rely Laughed Quantity Linked Flavor Adopted Contention Rely Upon

Book:The Simone Weil Reader

Source: The Simone Weil Reader

“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.”

Objects Beast Imitation Idolatry

Book:Gravity and Grace

Source: Gravity and Grace

“A society like the Church, which claims to be Divine is perhaps more dangerous on account of the ersatz good which it contains then on account of the evil which sullies it. Something of the social labelled divine: an intoxicating mixture which carries with it every sort of license. Devil disguised.”

Evil Social Church Dangerous Divine Devil Accounts Claims Carrie License Mixtures

Book:Gravity and Grace

Source: Gravity and Grace