Attention Quote by Simone Weil
“School children and students who love God should never say: "For my part I like mathematics"; "I like French"; "I like Greek." They should learn to like all these subjects, because all of them develop that faculty of attention which, directed toward God, is the very substance of prayer.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Need for Roots, Simone Weil, 1949
She argues that true devotion requires loving all subjects, as each trains attention, which is essential for prayer.
In simple terms: Loving all subjects trains attention for prayer.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate curiosity across disciplines.
Themes
faith
education
attention
prayer
holism
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- school curriculum
- personal study
- religious formation
- interdisciplinary learning
Key Concepts
spirituality
cognitive development
disciplinary integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance breadth and depth in learning?
- What role does attention play in spiritual practice?
A Different Perspective
May become overwhelming to love everything equally; depth may suffer.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
