Simone Weil Quotes

If our life is unhappy it is painful to bear; if it is happy it is horrible to lose, So the one is pretty equal to the other.

Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change: the change itself is nothing; when we have made it, the next wish is to change again.

Given the amount of unjust suffering and unhappiness in the world, I am deeply grateful for, sometimes even perplexed by, how much misery I have been spared.

Happiness for a reason is just another form of misery because the reason can be taken away from us at any time.

Happiness is brief. It will not stay. God batters at its sails.

How unbearable at times are people who are happy, people for whom everything works out.

Not enough people in this world are happy.

I am quite miserable because I'm never satisfied with what I've got. You're always looking for that next high, and that is what I would define as happiness.

Life will end in death and unhappiness, but we do it anyway.

For the wretched one night is like a thousand; for someone faring well death is just one more night.

On a soap, happiness never lasts for very long!

When a small child, I thought that success spelled happiness. I was wrong, happiness is like a butterfly which appears and delights us for one brief moment, but soon flits away.

His eyes so dim, so wasted each limb, that, heedless of grammar, they all cried, that's him!

If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.

The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not.

Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another.

Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.

Money can't buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.

In order to have great happiness you have to have great pain and unhappiness - otherwise how would you know when you're happy?

The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.

Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible.

The secret to happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible.

Life, an age to the miserable, and a moment to the happy.

I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace; beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to Fourteen: - O man! place not thy confidence in this present world.

As covetousness is the root of all evil, so poverty is, I believe, the worst of all snares.