---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The contemporary form of true greatness…"
description: "\"The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded upon the spirituality of work.\" — Simone Weil"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/simone-weil-544_civilization_the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness_1134030.jpg"
---

#  The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a…

![“The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded upon the spirituality of work.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/simone-weil-544_civilization_the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness_1134030.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/simone-weil-544_civilization_the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness_1134030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/simone-weil-544_civilization_the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness_1134030.jpg)

> “The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded upon the spirituality of work.”

[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.

Greatness arises from a society that values meaningful, spiritual labor.

**In simple terms:** Greatness comes from work with spiritual purpose.

Key Takeaway

Value purposeful work.

Themes

work spirituality civilization

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- career choice
- community building
- ethical labor

Key Concepts

philosophy social theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What does "spirituality of work" mean to you?
- How can societies foster meaningful labor?

A Different Perspective

Spiritual work may be hard to define.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [True greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-greatness/)

## Related quotes

> [The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded on the spirituality of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness-lies-in-a-civilization-2/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [Every civilization is founded on sins - every single one. Dispossession, violence, appropriation. What distinguishes civilizations are the ones who rise above it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/every-civilization-is-founded-on-sins-every-single-one-dispossession/)

[Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/)

> [The civilization you sit in ... is now obvious in crisis, perhaps death pangs, twisting grotesquely like a dying animal, swirling down the garbage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-civilization-you-sit-in-is-now-obvious-in-crisis-perhaps-death/)

[Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/)

> [If you work on your creativity, you deepen your spirituality. And if you work on your spirituality, you deepen your creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/if-you-work-on-your-creativity-you-deepen-your-spirituality-and-if/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [“To finally surrender ourselves to healing, we have to have three spaces opened up within us - and all at the same time: our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/to-finally-surrender-ourselves-to-healing-we-have-to-have-three/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [In Benedictine spirituality, work is what we do to continue what God wanted done…God goes on creating through us. Consequently a life spent serving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/in-benedictine-spirituality-work-is-what-we-do-to-continue-what-god/)

[Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/)

> [“Whether we understand work spiritually depends in large part on whether we understand the economy spiritually. If we view the economy materialistically, thinking that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-forster/whether-we-understand-work-spiritually-depends-in-large-part-on/)

[Greg Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-forster/)

> [There are only two sorts of greatness: true greatness, which is of a spiritual order, and the old, old lie of world conquest. Conquest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/there-are-only-two-sorts-of-greatness-true-greatness-which-is-of-a/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [Here is one of the fundamental defects of American fiction--perhaps the one character that sets it off sharply from all other known kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/here-is-one-of-the-fundamental-defects-of-american-fiction-perhaps/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [New York city, the incomparable, the brilliant star city of cities, the forty-ninth state, a law unto itself, the Cyclopean Paradox, the inferno with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gunther/new-york-city-the-incomparable-the-brilliant-star-city-of-cities-the/)

[John Gunther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gunther/)

> [Making others happy through kindness of speech and sincerity of advice is a sign of true greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/making-others-happy-through-kindness-of-speech-and-sincerity-of/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Let your desire for truth transcend all minor considerations. Ignorance is invariably confident. The man of knowledge learns to realize his own needs. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/let-your-desire-for-truth-transcend-all-minor-considerations/)

[Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/)

> [True greatness,true leadership,is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. True service is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/true-greatness-true-leadership-is-found-in-giving-yourself-in-service/)

[J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/)

> [My personal interest in ordinary people is unlimited, but I am fascinated by the challenge of portraying true greatness adequately with my camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/my-personal-interest-in-ordinary-people-is-unlimited-but-i-am/)

[Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/)

> [A wholesome regard for the memory of the great men of long ago is the best assurance to a people of a continuation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-wholesome-regard-for-the-memory-of-the-great-men-of-long-ago-is-the/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

## 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 Civilization quotes

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/)

[Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/)

> [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/)

[Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/)

> [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/)

[Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/)

> [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/)

[Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/)

[John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/)

> [Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/our-laws-and-our-institutions-must-necessarily-be-based-upon-and/)

[David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/)

[Browse all 4,084 Civilization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded upon the spirituality of work.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Simone Weil"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness-lies-in-a-civilization/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Civilization"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness-lies-in-a-civilization/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/simone-weil-544_civilization_the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness_1134030.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/simone-weil-544_civilization_the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness_1134030.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/simone-weil-544_civilization_the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness_1134030.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The contemporary form of true greatness lies in a civilization founded upon the spirituality of work.” — 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": "The contemporary form of true greatness...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness-lies-in-a-civilization/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-contemporary-form-of-true-greatness-lies-in-a-civilization/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
