Simone Weil Quotes

The notion of obligations comes before that of rights, which is subordinate and relative to the former. A right is not effectual by itself, but only in relation to the obligation to which it corresponds, the effective exercise of a right springing not from the individual who possesses it, but from other men who consider themselves as being under a certain obligation towards him. Recognition of an obligation makes it effectual. An obligation which goes unrecognized by anybody loses none of the full force of its existence. A right which goes unrecognized by anybody is not worth very much. It makes nonsense to say that men have, on the one hand, rights, and on the other hand, obligations. Such words only express differences in point of view. The actual relationship between the two is as between object and subject. A man, considered in isolation, only has duties, amongst which are certain duties towards himself. A man left alone in the universe would have no rights whatever, but he would have obligations.

Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.

Today Relative to Yesterday or Tomorrow The future is made of the same stuff as the present.

The future is made of the same stuff as the present.

Humility is attentive patience.

The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell.

A hurtful act is the transference to others of the degradation which we bear in ourselves.

Charity. To love human beings in so far as they are nothing. That is to love them as God does.