--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We only possess what we renounce; what we…" description: "\"We only possess what we renounce; what we do not renounce escapes from us.\" — Simone Weil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/simone-weil-544_renounce_we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we_1287155.jpg" --- # We only possess what we renounce; what we do not renounce… ![“We only possess what we renounce; what we do not renounce escapes from us.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/simone-weil-544_renounce_we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we_1287155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/simone-weil-544_renounce_we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we_1287155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/simone-weil-544_renounce_we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we_1287155.jpg) > “We only possess what we renounce; what we do not renounce escapes from us.” [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. Renouncing desires creates true ownership; unrenounced desires remain unattainable. **In simple terms:** Letting go gives you control; unlet go desires stay out of reach. Key Takeaway Practice intentional letting go. Themes self‑control desire ownership Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal goals - material consumption - relationships - career ambitions Key Concepts existentialism spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What do you truly need versus what you cling to? - How can you discern healthy renunciation? A Different Perspective Renunciation may cause unnecessary loss if misapplied. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Escapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escapes/) ## Related quotes > [We truly possess only what we are able to renounce; otherwise, we are simply possessed by our possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/we-truly-possess-only-what-we-are-able-to-renounce-otherwise-we-are/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [I am not a Catholic; but I consider the Christian idea, which has its roots in Greek thought and in the course of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/i-am-not-a-catholic-but-i-consider-the-christian-idea-which-has-its/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [To get power over is to defile. To possess is to defile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/to-get-power-over-is-to-defile-to-possess-is-to-defile/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [We possess nothing in the world - a mere chance can strip us of everything - except the power to say 'I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/we-possess-nothing-in-the-world-a-mere-chance-can-strip-us-of/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [If we go down into ourselves, we find that we possess exactly what we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/if-we-go-down-into-ourselves-we-find-that-we-possess-exactly-what-we/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [It must be well-nigh a maximum of sense to behave so that one escapes being hanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-must-be-well-nigh-a-maximum-of-sense-to-behave-so-that-one-escapes/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [No one escapes from life alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/no-one-escapes-from-life-alive/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [For city dwellers like me who don't get to vacation in the summer, no filmmaker can so effectively make you feel like you went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-paltrow/for-city-dwellers-like-me-who-don-t-get-to-vacation-in-the-summer-no/) [Jake Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-paltrow/) > [Nobody escapes age and gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/nobody-escapes-age-and-gravity/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [But what if music is what escapes when a heart breaks?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/but-what-if-music-is-what-escapes-when-a-heart-breaks/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I love sci-fi, computer games. I love any escapes. Give me them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-siddig/i-love-sci-fi-computer-games-i-love-any-escapes-give-me-them-all/) [Alexander Siddig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-siddig/) > [Anyone with a heart, with a family, has experienced loss. No one escapes unscathed. Every story of separation is different, but I think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luanne-rice/anyone-with-a-heart-with-a-family-has-experienced-loss-no-one-escapes/) [Luanne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luanne-rice/) > [It isn't running away they're afraid of. We wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself, given a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-isn-t-running-away-they-re-afraid-of-we-wouldn-t-get-far-it-s/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The best work for creative folks on the team is when the problem is big and the solution escapes everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sinofsky/the-best-work-for-creative-folks-on-the-team-is-when-the-problem-is/) [Steven Sinofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sinofsky/) > [There is much worth noticing that often escapes the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/there-is-much-worth-noticing-that-often-escapes-the-eye/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) ## 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 Escapes quotes > [There is much worth noticing that often escapes the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/there-is-much-worth-noticing-that-often-escapes-the-eye/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [The best work for creative folks on the team is when the problem is big and the solution escapes everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sinofsky/the-best-work-for-creative-folks-on-the-team-is-when-the-problem-is/) [Steven Sinofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sinofsky/) > [It isn't running away they're afraid of. We wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself, given a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-isn-t-running-away-they-re-afraid-of-we-wouldn-t-get-far-it-s/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Anyone with a heart, with a family, has experienced loss. No one escapes unscathed. Every story of separation is different, but I think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luanne-rice/anyone-with-a-heart-with-a-family-has-experienced-loss-no-one-escapes/) [Luanne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luanne-rice/) > [I love sci-fi, computer games. I love any escapes. Give me them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-siddig/i-love-sci-fi-computer-games-i-love-any-escapes-give-me-them-all/) [Alexander Siddig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-siddig/) > [But what if music is what escapes when a heart breaks?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/but-what-if-music-is-what-escapes-when-a-heart-breaks/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Nobody escapes age and gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/nobody-escapes-age-and-gravity/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [For city dwellers like me who don't get to vacation in the summer, no filmmaker can so effectively make you feel like you went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-paltrow/for-city-dwellers-like-me-who-don-t-get-to-vacation-in-the-summer-no/) [Jake Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-paltrow/) > [No one escapes from life alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/no-one-escapes-from-life-alive/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [It must be well-nigh a maximum of sense to behave so that one escapes being hanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-must-be-well-nigh-a-maximum-of-sense-to-behave-so-that-one-escapes/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“The trap is loneliness, and none of us escapes it. Not even me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/the-trap-is-loneliness-and-none-of-us-escapes-it-not-even-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Falling down is a very big subject, and so is the concept of downfall. None of us escapes, and I have had my share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/falling-down-is-a-very-big-subject-and-so-is-the-concept-of-downfall/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [I'm not one of those people who escapes to the countryside at weekends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-rouass/i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-escapes-to-the-countryside-at-weekends/) [Laila Rouass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-rouass/) > [“When a prisoner of style escapes, it's called an evasion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-a-prisoner-of-style-escapes-it-s-called-an-evasion/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [For rarely man escapes his destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-ariosto/for-rarely-man-escapes-his-destiny/) [Ludovico Ariosto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-ariosto/) [Browse all 39 Escapes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escapes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We only possess what we renounce; what we do not renounce escapes from us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simone Weil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we-do-not-renounce-escapes-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Escapes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we-do-not-renounce-escapes-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/simone-weil-544_renounce_we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we_1287155.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/simone-weil-544_renounce_we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we_1287155.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/simone-weil-544_renounce_we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we_1287155.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We only possess what we renounce; what we do not renounce escapes from us.” — 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": "We only possess what we renounce;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we-do-not-renounce-escapes-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/we-only-possess-what-we-renounce-what-we-do-not-renounce-escapes-from/#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 } } ] } ```