I would suggest that barbarism be considered as a permanent and universal human characteristic which becomes more or less pronounced according to the play of circumstances.

Quote by Simone Weil

Topics: Simone Weil Quotes

There is no detachment where there is no pain. And there is no pain endured...

There is no detachment where there is no pain. And there is no pain endured...

It is only the impossible that is possible for God. He has given over the...

It is only the impossible that is possible for God. He has given over the...

If Germany, thanks to Hitler and his successors, were to enslave the European nations and...

If Germany, thanks to Hitler and his successors, were to enslave the European nations and...

To want friendship is a great fault. Friendship ought to be a gratuitous joy, like...

To want friendship is a great fault. Friendship ought to be a gratuitous joy, like...

To get power over is to defile. To possess is to defile.

To get power over is to defile. To possess is to defile.

The mysteries of faith are degraded if they are made into an object of affirmation...

The mysteries of faith are degraded if they are made into an object of affirmation...

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

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

To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human...

To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human...

In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what...

In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what...

Two prisoners whose cells adjoin communicate with each other by knocking on the wall. The...

Two prisoners whose cells adjoin communicate with each other by knocking on the wall. The...

Imagination is always the fabric of social life and the dynamic of history. The influence...

Imagination is always the fabric of social life and the dynamic of history. The influence...

The capacity to give one's attention to a sufferer is a very rare and difficult...

The capacity to give one's attention to a sufferer is a very rare and difficult...

More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to...

More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to...

Whatever debases the intelligence degrades the entire human being.

Whatever debases the intelligence degrades the entire human being.

Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of...

Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of...

A test of what is real is that it is hard and rough. Joys are...

A test of what is real is that it is hard and rough. Joys are...

If we are suffering illness, poverty, or misfortune, we think we shall be satisfied on...

If we are suffering illness, poverty, or misfortune, we think we shall be satisfied on...

In the Church, considered as a social organism, the mysteries inevitably degenerate into beliefs.

In the Church, considered as a social organism, the mysteries inevitably degenerate into beliefs.

Nothing can have as its destination anything other than its origin. The contrary idea, the...

Nothing can have as its destination anything other than its origin. The contrary idea, the...

Life does not need to mutilate itself in order to be pure.

Life does not need to mutilate itself in order to be pure.