--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One has only the choice between God and…" description: "\"One has only the choice between God and idolatry. There is no other possibility. For the faculty of worship is in us, and it is either directed somewhe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/simone-weil-544_choices_one-has-only-the-choice-between-god-and_2906547.jpg" --- # One has only the choice between God and idolatry. There is… ![“One has only the choice between God and idolatry. There is no other possibility. For the faculty of worship is in us, and it is either directed somewhere into this world, or into another.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/simone-weil-544_choices_one-has-only-the-choice-between-god-and_2906547.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/simone-weil-544_choices_one-has-only-the-choice-between-god-and_2906547.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/simone-weil-544_choices_one-has-only-the-choice-between-god-and_2906547.jpg) > “One has only the choice between God and idolatry. There is no other possibility. For the faculty of worship is in us, and it is either directed somewhere into this world, or into another.” [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. Argues that worship is a choice between divine focus and idolatry, with no middle ground; worship must be directed somewhere. **In simple terms:** Worship is a choice between God and idolatry. Key Takeaway Choose purposeful focus in devotion. Themes spirituality choice idolatry Mood contemplative serious Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - religious practice - personal values - ethical decisions Key Concepts theology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What do you idolize unintentionally? - How can you align actions with higher purpose? A Different Perspective Human tendency to split focus can dilute devotion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Idolatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idolatry/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [True religion is not about possessing the truth. No religion does that. It is rather an invitation into a journey that leads one toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/true-religion-is-not-about-possessing-the-truth-no-religion-does-that/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We make a god out of whatever we find most joy in. So find your joy in God and be done with all idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-make-a-god-out-of-whatever-we-find-most-joy-in-so-find-your-joy-in/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Whatever a man seeks, honors, or exalts more than God is the god of his idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernard-ullathorne/whatever-a-man-seeks-honors-or-exalts-more-than-god-is-the-god-of-his/) [William Bernard Ullathorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernard-ullathorne/) > [When your thoughts and opinions become intellectual gods in rebellion against the Word of God, you are in idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/when-your-thoughts-and-opinions-become-intellectual-gods-in-rebellion/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Whatever a man seeks, honors, or exalts more than God, this is the god of idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernard-ullathorne/whatever-a-man-seeks-honors-or-exalts-more-than-god-this-is-the-god/) [William Bernard Ullathorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernard-ullathorne/) > [Thou god of our idolatry, the press. . . . Thou fountain, at which drink the good and wise; Thou ever-bubbling spring of endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/thou-god-of-our-idolatry-the-press-thou-fountain-at-which-drink-the/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [An idol is something that we look to for things that only God can give. Idolatry functions widely inside religious communities when doctrinal truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/an-idol-is-something-that-we-look-to-for-things-that-only-god-can/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [A woman's vanity is interested in making the object of her choice the god of her idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/a-woman-s-vanity-is-interested-in-making-the-object-of-her-choice-the/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Patriotism is idolatry of the self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/patriotism-is-idolatry-of-the-self/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The Great Beast is the only object of idolatry , the only ersatz of God , the only imitation of something which is infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-great-beast-is-the-only-object-of-idolatry-the-only-ersatz-of-god/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The Hebrews took for their idol, not something made of metal or wood, but a race, a nation, something just as earthly. Their religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-hebrews-took-for-their-idol-not-something-made-of-metal-or-wood/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The real sin of idolatry is always committed on behalf of something similar to the State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-committed-on-behalf-of-something/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Our patriotism comes straight from the Romans. This is why French children are encouraged to seek inspiration for it in Corneille. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/our-patriotism-comes-straight-from-the-romans-this-is-why-french/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“We are drawn towards a thing, either because there is some good we are seeking from it, or because we cannot do without it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/we-are-drawn-towards-a-thing-either-because-there-is-some-good-we-are/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Worship of society and popular opinion is idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/worship-of-society-and-popular-opinion-is-idolatry/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## 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 Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One has only the choice between God and idolatry. 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