Quotation by

Simone Weil

The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell.

Intelligence

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Being proud of one's intelligence is pointless because it is a limitation or condition one cannot control, similar to how a prisoner cannot take pride in the size of their cell. This comparison highlights that valuing intelligence as a personal achievement ignores the fact that it is simply a given circumstance, not a true source of freedom or worth.

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We should take care not to make the intellect our god it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.