"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
About this Quote
In this quote, Simone Weil is highlighting the devastating nature of force. She argues that those who have or believe they possess force are simply as much victims of its power as those who are directly impacted by it. Weil suggests that force has a method of intoxicating those who wield it, blinding them to the damage they are causing. However, she also asserts that nobody genuinely has force, as it is a fleeting and unmanageable entity. Ultimately, Weil is cautioning against the unsafe appeal of force and advising us that it eventually brings harm to both its victims and those who wield it.
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