--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as a person who is always asserting…" description: "\"Just as a person who is always asserting that he is too good-natured is the very one from whom to expect, on some occasion, the coldest and most unconc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/simone-weil-544_belief_just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting_944876.jpg" --- # Just as a person who is always asserting that he is too… ![“Just as a person who is always asserting that he is too good-natured is the very one from whom to expect, on some occasion, the coldest and most unconcerned cruelty, so when any group sees itself as the bearer of civilization this very belief will betray it into behaving barbarously at the first…” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/simone-weil-544_belief_just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting_944876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/simone-weil-544_belief_just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting_944876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/simone-weil-544_belief_just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting_944876.jpg) > “Just as a person who is always asserting that he is too good-natured is the very one from whom to expect, on some occasion, the coldest and most unconcerned cruelty, so when any group sees itself as the bearer of civilization this very belief will betray it into behaving barbarously at the first opportunity.” [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Claiming moral superiority can mask cruelty; groups that see themselves as civilizers may act barbarously when threatened. **In simple terms:** Self‑righteousness hides cruelty; civilization can become barbaric. Key Takeaway Beware hubris, stay humble. Themes humility civilization barbarism power self‑deception Mood cautious critical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - cultural movements - intergroup conflict - colonialism Key Concepts moral psychology social identity ethical paradox Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑perception affect behavior? - What checks prevent group barbarism? A Different Perspective Even the "civilized" can become cruel under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asserting Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asserting-good-1641513/) [Behaving Barbarously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaving-barbarously-1641511/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Betray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-betray-1641510/) [Betray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray/) [Betray Behaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray-behaving-1641512/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Colonialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonialism/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Unconcerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconcerned/) [Unconcerned Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconcerned-cruelty-1641509/) ## Related quotes > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [The one who follows the thought is also a thought! The one who follows the thought IS in thought. When you know that both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/the-one-who-follows-the-thought-is-also-a-thought-the-one-who-follows/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [“I had no idea what a delicious feeling it was, to be free, to be absolutely unconcerned about whether one loved or didn't love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hayes/i-had-no-idea-what-a-delicious-feeling-it-was-to-be-free-to-be/) [Alfred Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hayes/) > [The job of the photographer, in my view, is not to catalogue indisputable fact but to try to be coherent about intuition and hope.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/the-job-of-the-photographer-in-my-view-is-not-to-catalogue/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [If I were dead, I would be the last to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/if-i-were-dead-i-would-be-the-last-to-know/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [When I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/when-i-am-alone-i-can-become-invisible-i-can-sit-on-the-top-of-a-dune/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Elites are always indifferent and unconcerned to the plight of common people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-fry/elites-are-always-indifferent-and-unconcerned-to-the-plight-of-common/) [Jeffrey Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-fry/) > [With respect to public acknowledgment of religious belief, it is entirely clear from our nation's historical practices that the Establishment Clause permits this disregard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/with-respect-to-public-acknowledgment-of-religious-belief-it-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The farther we get from God, the more the world spirals out of control. My heart aches for America and its deceived people. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-farther-we-get-from-god-the-more-the-world-spirals-out-of-control/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [It would be hard to conceive a system of instincts more nicely adjusted, where the constituents should represent or support one another better. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/it-would-be-hard-to-conceive-a-system-of-instincts-more-nicely/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [When it's time to get dressed, put on your clothes. When you must walk, then walk. When you must sit, then sit. Just be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linji-yixuan/when-it-s-time-to-get-dressed-put-on-your-clothes-when-you-must-walk/) [Linji Yixuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linji-yixuan/) > [I drink much less than most people think, and I think much more than most people would believe. I am quite sincere about some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-drink-much-less-than-most-people-think-and-i-think-much-more-than/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Everyone is always busy, not until it is something that benefits them, or that which concerns whom they love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/everyone-is-always-busy-not-until-it-is-something-that-benefits-them/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [When a man’s heart is cold and unconcerned about religion – when his hands are never employed in doing God’s work – when his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-man-s-heart-is-cold-and-unconcerned-about-religion-when-his/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Unkind people spread malicious tales, and well-intentioned people also censure; but in either case the tranquil sage remains unconcerned. Nowhere is there to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/unkind-people-spread-malicious-tales-and-well-intentioned-people-also/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More by Simone Weil > [Oppression that is clearly inexorable and invincible does not give rise to revolt but to submission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/oppression-that-is-clearly-inexorable-and-invincible-does-not-give/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [One should identify oneself with the universe itself. Everything that is less than the universe is subjected to suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/one-should-identify-oneself-with-the-universe-itself-everything-that/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [What a country calls its vital economic interests are not the things which enable its citizens to live, but the things which enable it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/what-a-country-calls-its-vital-economic-interests-are-not-the-things/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-intelligent-man-who-is-proud-of-his-intelligence-is-like-the/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The highest ecstasy is the attention at its fullest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-highest-ecstasy-is-the-attention-at-its-fullest/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [To be innocent is to bear the weight of the entire universe. It is to throw away the counterweight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/to-be-innocent-is-to-bear-the-weight-of-the-entire-universe-it-is-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Equality is the public recognition, effectively expressed in institutions and manners, of the principle that an equal degree of attention is due to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/equality-is-the-public-recognition-effectively-expressed-in/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The entire universe is nothing but a great metaphor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-entire-universe-is-nothing-but-a-great-metaphor/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [A beautiful woman looking at her image in the mirror may very well believe the image is herself. An ugly woman knows it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-beautiful-woman-looking-at-her-image-in-the-mirror-may-very-well/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Only he who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love andjustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/only-he-who-has-measured-the-dominion-of-force-and-knows-how-not-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/every-time-that-i-think-of-the-crucifixion-of-christ-i-commit-the-sin/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [A Pharisee is someone who is virtuous out of obedience to the Great Beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-pharisee-is-someone-who-is-virtuous-out-of-obedience-to-the-great/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Joy is being fully aware of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/joy-is-being-fully-aware-of-reality/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) [Explore all 443 Simone Weil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Just as a person who is always asserting that he is too good-natured is the very one from whom to expect, on some occasion, the coldest and most unconcerned cruelty, so when any group sees itself as the bearer of civilization this very belief will betray it into behaving barbarously at the first opportunity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simone Weil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting-that-he-is-too-good-natured/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting-that-he-is-too-good-natured/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/simone-weil-544_belief_just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting_944876.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/simone-weil-544_belief_just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting_944876.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/simone-weil-544_belief_just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting_944876.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as a person who is always asserting that he is too good-natured is the very one from whom to expect, on…” — Simone Weil", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Simone Weil", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just as a person who is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting-that-he-is-too-good-natured/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/just-as-a-person-who-is-always-asserting-that-he-is-too-good-natured/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```