--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real sin of idolatry is always…" description: "\"The real sin of idolatry is always committed on behalf of something similar to the State.\" — Simone Weil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/simone-weil-544_behalf_the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-commi_789312.jpg" --- # The real sin of idolatry is always committed on behalf of… ![“The real sin of idolatry is always committed on behalf of something similar to the State.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/simone-weil-544_behalf_the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-commi_789312.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/simone-weil-544_behalf_the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-commi_789312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/simone-weil-544_behalf_the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-commi_789312.jpg) > “The real sin of idolatry is always committed on behalf of something similar to the State.” [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. Idolatry often manifests through devotion to the State. **In simple terms:** State worship is a form of idolatry. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek higher values. Themes philosophy religion politics Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - activism - academic study - personal reflection Key Concepts idolatry authority human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How does one recognize state idolatry? - What alternatives to state worship exist? A Different Perspective State loyalty can be socially reinforced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behalf/) [Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed/) [Committed Behalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed-behalf-6065901/) [Idolatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idolatry/) [Idolatry Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idolatry-committed-2738108/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-sin-404552/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Idolatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-idolatry-1343485/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils; by making men afraid of war or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/idolatry-is-committed-not-merely-by-setting-up-false-gods-but-also-by/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I make an idol of my moral consciousness. My pursuit of the good is corrupted by the sin of idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/i-make-an-idol-of-my-moral-consciousness-my-pursuit-of-the-good-is/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“The only way that we can avoid the sin of idolatry is by immersing ourselves in Spirit-enlightened study of God through the Scripture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyse-fitzpatrick/the-only-way-that-we-can-avoid-the-sin-of-idolatry-is-by-immersing/) [Elyse Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyse-fitzpatrick/) > [“Remember what sin and idolatry are really about: attempts to play God, to make everything and everyone serve you and your desires. To sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-t-smith/remember-what-sin-and-idolatry-are-really-about-attempts-to-play-god/) [Winston T. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-t-smith/) > [...the essential intention is the real sin. A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/the-essential-intention-is-the-real-sin-a-man-who-cannot-choose/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“Follow Christ for His own sake, if you follow Him at all. Be thorough, be real, be honest, be sound, be whole-hearted. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle-2/follow-christ-for-his-own-sake-if-you-follow-him-at-all-be-thorough/) [J.C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle-2/) > [I believe the real sin is when we hurt one another with violence, rape and molestation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyd/i-believe-the-real-sin-is-when-we-hurt-one-another-with-violence-rape/) [AmyD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyd/) > [Being real must be a sin, because I keep getting punished for keeping it real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-real-must-be-a-sin-because-i-keep-getting-punished-for-keeping/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is only one real sin and that is to persuade oneself that the second best is anything but second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/there-is-only-one-real-sin-and-that-is-to-persuade-oneself-that-the/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“there is only one real sin: being different. i'll be damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/there-is-only-one-real-sin-being-different-i-ll-be-damned/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) > [A sedentary life is the real sin against the Holy Spirit. Only those thoughts that come by walking have any value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-sedentary-life-is-the-real-sin-against-the-holy-spirit-only-those/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The real sin against life is to abuse and destroy beauty, even one's own even more, one's own, for that has been put in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/the-real-sin-against-life-is-to-abuse-and-destroy-beauty-even-one-s/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [“The sedentary life...is the real sin against the holy spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-sedentary-life-is-the-real-sin-against-the-holy-spirit/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The real sin against life is to abuse and destroy beauty, even one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/the-real-sin-against-life-is-to-abuse-and-destroy-beauty-even-one-s-2/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [“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/) ## 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 Behalf quotes > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Nonviolent tactics can move into action on our behalf men not naturally inclined to act for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-tactics-can-move-into-action-on-our-behalf-men-not/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Having children, they're not your property. They need to figure out their own views. I think my daughters have a pretty healthy self-awareness, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/having-children-they-re-not-your-property-they-need-to-figure-out/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I don't expect anybody here to cheerlead for Donald Trump. I expect us to have platforms like this, where we can fairly and effectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/i-don-t-expect-anybody-here-to-cheerlead-for-donald-trump-i-expect-us/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [Antitrust law isn't about protecting competing businesses from each other, it's about protecting competition itself on behalf of the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/antitrust-law-isn-t-about-protecting-competing-businesses-from-each/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [When we surrender to His timing, He does mighty things in and for us, according to His will and His timing. God acts on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/when-we-surrender-to-his-timing-he-does-mighty-things-in-and-for-us/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [When you leave good people afraid to speak on behalf of justice, however awkwardly or insensitively, those unafraid to speak will rise to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-morgan/when-you-leave-good-people-afraid-to-speak-on-behalf-of-justice/) [C.E. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-morgan/) > [ I couldn't ever act or think on behalf of what my father \[\[Albert Camus\]\] would have said or done. He's an artist, he considers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/i-couldn-t-ever-act-or-think-on-behalf-of-what-my-father-albert-camus/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) > [Are you going to go down on your knees and beg for your life, old one?" Abbot Mortimer stared calmly into Cluny's savage eye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/are-you-going-to-go-down-on-your-knees-and-beg-for-your-life-old-one/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [If a fellow wants to be nobody in the business world, let him neglect sending the mailman to somebody on his behalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/if-a-fellow-wants-to-be-nobody-in-the-business-world-let-him-neglect/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [The real test of one's belief in the doctrine of Habeas Corpus is not when one demands its application on behalf of one's friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-real-test-of-one-s-belief-in-the-doctrine-of-habeas-corpus-is-not/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [It is important that Miers not be confirmed unless, in her 61st year, she suddenly and unexpectedly is found to have hitherto undisclosed interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/it-is-important-that-miers-not-be-confirmed-unless-in-her-61st-year/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [I heard you're campaigning on my behalf." He walked over to me. "That wouldn't be because you'd miss me too much if I were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-heard-you-re-campaigning-on-my-behalf-he-walked-over-to-me-that/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) [Browse all 578 Behalf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behalf/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real sin of idolatry is always committed on behalf of something similar to the State.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simone Weil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-committed-on-behalf-of-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behalf" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-committed-on-behalf-of-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/simone-weil-544_behalf_the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-commi_789312.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/simone-weil-544_behalf_the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-commi_789312.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/simone-weil-544_behalf_the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-commi_789312.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real sin of idolatry is always committed on behalf of something similar to the State.” — 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 real sin of idolatry is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-committed-on-behalf-of-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-real-sin-of-idolatry-is-always-committed-on-behalf-of-something/#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 } } ] } ```