--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who are unhappy have no need for…" description: "\"Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.\" — Simone Weil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/simone-weil-544_attention_those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-a_369455.jpg" --- # Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this… ![“Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/simone-weil-544_attention_those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-a_369455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/simone-weil-544_attention_those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-a_369455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/simone-weil-544_attention_those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-a_369455.jpg) > “Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.” [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. People who feel unhappy often seek validation rather than material needs, craving focused attention from others. **In simple terms:** Unhappy people crave attention more than things. Key Takeaway Seek genuine connection, not just attention. Themes loneliness validation attention Mood reflective somber Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - therapy sessions - social media interactions - support groups Key Concepts existentialism psychology human need Questions to Reflect On - What does attention replace in your life? - Can you find fulfillment without external validation? A Different Perspective Attention alone cannot resolve deeper dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ No thoroughly occupied man was ever yet very miserable.\[to feel unhappy you need the time to consider how your lot could be better\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/no-thoroughly-occupied-man-was-ever-yet-very-miserable-to-feel/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [“Creative attention means really giving our attention to what does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/creative-attention-means-really-giving-our-attention-to-what-does-not/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Teamwork is what makes common people capable of uncommon results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/teamwork-is-what-makes-common-people-capable-of-uncommon-results/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Good people were also capable of doing very bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/good-people-were-also-capable-of-doing-very-bad-things/) [Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/) > [The only limit to the oppression of government is the power with which the people show themselves capable of opposing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errico-malatesta/the-only-limit-to-the-oppression-of-government-is-the-power-with/) [Errico Malatesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errico-malatesta/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I'm endlessly amazed by what people are capable of, and incapable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/i-m-endlessly-amazed-by-what-people-are-capable-of-and-incapable-of/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [The women who don't seek attention are usually the women you need to be giving our attention to...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-women-who-don-t-seek-attention-are-usually-the-women-you-need-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Looking back Shorty always mention said me not giving her much attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/looking-back-shorty-always-mention-said-me-not-giving-her-much/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [The first act of love is always the giving of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-first-act-of-love-is-always-the-giving-of-attention/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Quality time does not mean that we have to spend our together moments gazing into each other’s eyes. It means that we are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/quality-time-does-not-mean-that-we-have-to-spend-our-together-moments/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Success tends to bless those who are most committed to giving it the most attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-cardone/success-tends-to-bless-those-who-are-most-committed-to-giving-it-the/) [Grant Cardone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-cardone/) > [While he's giving her bullshit, another is giving her attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-he-s-giving-her-bullshit-another-is-giving-her-attention/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We're focusing on what we need to do. The only attention we're thinking about is giving each other the attention that we need as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/we-re-focusing-on-what-we-need-to-do-the-only-attention-we-re/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) ## 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 Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [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/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their attention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simone Weil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-anything-in-this-world-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-anything-in-this-world-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/simone-weil-544_attention_those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-a_369455.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/simone-weil-544_attention_those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-a_369455.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/simone-weil-544_attention_those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-a_369455.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world but people capable of giving them their…” — 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": "Those who are unhappy have no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-anything-in-this-world-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/those-who-are-unhappy-have-no-need-for-anything-in-this-world-but/#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 } } ] } ```