Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does, as it is to its victims; the second it crushes, the first it intoxicates. The truth is, nobody really possesses it.

Simone Weil

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of power

Author

Simone Weil

Language

French

Time

1940 1940s 20th century

Occupation

Activist Philosopher Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Weil, Simone. "L'iliade ou le poeme de la force [The Iliad, or The Poem of Force]." Les Cahiers du Sud, 1940.

Current Citation

Weil, Simone. "The Iliad, or The Poem of Force." Simone Weil: An Anthology, translated by Sian Miles. Grove Press, 2000.

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A quote by Simone Weil about nature of power: “Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does…”
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A quote by Simone Weil about nature of power: “Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does…”
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A quote by Simone Weil about nature of power: “Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1940s

Wars, conflict - it's all business. One murder makes a villain; millions, a hero. Numbers sanctify, my good fellow!

Charlie Chaplin

Monsieur Verdoux

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More information about this quote
Topic
War
Speaker
Henri Verdoux
Actor
Charlie Chaplin
Source
Monsieur Verdoux
Medium
Film
Genre
Comedy (film) Comedy
Language
English
Time
1947 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 0
Citation

Monsieur Verdoux. Directed by Charlie Chaplin, United Artists, 1947.

Another quote from 1940

We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

Winston Churchill

More information about this quote
Topic
World War II No surrender
Speaker
Winston Churchill
Source
We Shall Fight on the Beaches
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1940 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Churchill, Winston. "We Shall Fight on the Beaches." House of Commons meeting. 4 June 1940, The Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK. Address.

Current Citation

Churchill, Winston. "Dunkirk: Wars Are Not Won by Evacuations." Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: The Great Speeches, edited by David Cannadine. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Another quote originally in French

All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.

Voltaire

Candide

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More information about this quote
Topic
Problem of evil Nature of the world The world
Speaker
Pangloss

Author

Voltaire
Source
Candide
Medium
Novel
Genre
Satire
Language
French
Time
1759 1750s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 1.