"Who were the fools who spread the story that brute force cannot kill ideas? Nothing is easier. And once they are dead they are no more than corpses"

In this quote, Simone Weil is questioning the belief that brute force is incapable of destroying ideas. She argues that it is actually quite easy to eliminate concepts through using force. Once an idea is damaged, it ends up being absolutely nothing more than a lifeless remains. Weil is recommending that those who believe in the power of ideas may be ignorant, as they undervalue the harmful force of violence. She may also be suggesting that concepts are not as resistant as we might believe, and can be quickly extinguished by those who possess physical strength. In general, Weil is challenging the notion that concepts are invincible and highlighting the danger of using force to reduce them.