Q0514
“The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being…” — Simone Weil (Waiting for God, "Reflections on the…)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Waiting for God, "Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies". Theme: love.
English
The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him: "What are you going through?"
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Waiting for God, "Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies" 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
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, attention, community.
Concepts in this quote
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
- 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.
- Community
- Community appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat community as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Simone Weil. (n.d.). The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him: "What are you going through?" In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0514
MLA: Simone Weil. “The love of our neighbor in all its….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0514.
Chicago: Simone Weil. “The love of our neighbor in all its….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0514.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The love of our neighbor in all its…”?
The passage is attributed to Simone Weil, Waiting for God, "Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies". The archive attributes this English wording to Waiting for God, "Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies" 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 love?
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, attention, community.