--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The simultaneous existence of opposite…" description: "\"The simultaneous existence of opposite virtues in the soul like pincers to catch hold of God.\" — Simone Weil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/simone-weil-544_character_the-simultaneous-existence-of-opposite-v_2946428.jpg" --- # The simultaneous existence of opposite virtues in the soul… ![“The simultaneous existence of opposite virtues in the soul like pincers to catch hold of God.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/simone-weil-544_character_the-simultaneous-existence-of-opposite-v_2946428.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/simone-weil-544_character_the-simultaneous-existence-of-opposite-v_2946428.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/simone-weil-544_character_the-simultaneous-existence-of-opposite-v_2946428.jpg) > “The simultaneous existence of opposite virtues in the soul like pincers to catch hold of God.” [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. The soul can hold contradictory virtues simultaneously, each guiding toward the divine. **In simple terms:** Opposite virtues can coexist in the soul, pointing to God. Key Takeaway Embrace inner contradictions to deepen spirituality. Themes spirituality duality virtue Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - ethical decision making - creative expression - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile conflicting values? - What role does paradox play in your faith? A Different Perspective Balancing opposing virtues can cause inner tension and indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-opposite-443489/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Like Pincers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-pincers-4418999/) [Opposite Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-virtues-4418998/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Simultaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simultaneous/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Virtues Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-soul-505552/) ## Related quotes > [Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/humility-is-the-foundation-of-all-the-other-virtues-hence-in-the-soul/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [sometimes the very faults of parents produce a tendency to opposite virtues in their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/sometimes-the-very-faults-of-parents-produce-a-tendency-to-opposite/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [“A truth is not necessary, because we negatively are not able to conceive the actual existence of the opposite thereof;but a truth is necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-dabney/a-truth-is-not-necessary-because-we-negatively-are-not-able-to/) [R.L. Dabney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-dabney/) > [Without the existence of the opposite, the concept has no meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/without-the-existence-of-the-opposite-the-concept-has-no-meaning/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [We have divided the Virtues of the Soul into two groups, the Virtues of the Character and the Virtues of the Intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/we-have-divided-the-virtues-of-the-soul-into-two-groups-the-virtues/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [We endeavor to conceal our vices under the disguise of the opposite virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/we-endeavor-to-conceal-our-vices-under-the-disguise-of-the-opposite/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [The right to kill: supposing the life of X ... were linked with our own so that the two deaths had to be simultaneous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-right-to-kill-supposing-the-life-of-x-were-linked-with-our-own-so/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [You cannot separate the onset of a disturbing moment in life from the appearance of some simultaneous new possibility to know a deeper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/you-cannot-separate-the-onset-of-a-disturbing-moment-in-life-from-the/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [It seems to be the special peculiarity of human beings that they reflect: they think about thinking and know that they know. This, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/it-seems-to-be-the-special-peculiarity-of-human-beings-that-they/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The completely simultaneous and perfect possession of unlimited life at a single moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius/the-completely-simultaneous-and-perfect-possession-of-unlimited-life/) [Boethius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius/) > [Transmitted at the speed of light, all events on this planet are simultaneous. In the electric environment of information all events are simultaneous, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/transmitted-at-the-speed-of-light-all-events-on-this-planet-are/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [I am intrigued with combining the remnant of memories, fragments of relics and ordinary objects, with the components of technology. It's a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betye-saar/i-am-intrigued-with-combining-the-remnant-of-memories-fragments-of/) [Betye Saar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betye-saar/) > [To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/to-me-photography-is-the-simultaneous-recognition-in-a-fraction-of-a/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [Like primitive, we now live in a global village of our own making, a simultaneous happening. It doesn't necessarily mean harmony and peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/like-primitive-we-now-live-in-a-global-village-of-our-own-making-a/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Where to start is the problem, because nothing begins when it begins and nothing's over when it's over, and everything needs a preface: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/where-to-start-is-the-problem-because-nothing-begins-when-it-begins/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## 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 Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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