Q0359
“Absolute attention is prayer.” — Simone Weil (Gravity and Grace)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Gravity and Grace. Theme: attention.
English
Absolute attention is prayer.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Gravity and Grace and files it under Religious Existentialism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Simone Weil
Simone Weil (1909–1943) was a French philosopher, mystic, and political activist who taught, worked in factories, and engaged labor and anti-fascist causes. A brilliant Normalienne, she sought experiential solidarity with the oppressed.
How to read this passage
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch), attention is framed through Religious Existentialism and Platonic Moral Philosophy. Some passages define attention; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through attention.
Concepts in this quote
- Attention
- Attention appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat attention as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Simone Weil. (n.d.). Absolute attention is prayer. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0359
MLA: Simone Weil. “Absolute attention is prayer..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0359.
Chicago: Simone Weil. “Absolute attention is prayer..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0359.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Absolute attention is prayer.”?
The passage is attributed to Simone Weil, Gravity and Grace. The archive attributes this English wording to Gravity and Grace and files it under Religious Existentialism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Simone Weil mean by attention?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch), attention is framed through Religious Existentialism and Platonic Moral Philosophy. Some passages define attention; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through attention.