more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
The human soul has need of equality and of hierarchy. Equality is the public recognition …of the principal that an equal degree of attention is due to the needs of all human beings. Hierarchy is the scale of responsibilities.
Gist of Idea
We need both equality (to attend to human needs) and hierarchy (as a scale of responsibilities)
Source
Simone Weil (Draft Statement of Human Obligations [1943], p.228)
Book Ref
Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.228
A Reaction
This is the conservative aspect of Weil's largely radical political thinking. Presumably what we respect in these people is their responsibilies, and not their mere rank. Idle members of the British House of Lords have no rank in this hierarchy.
Related Idea
Idea 23831 The essence of power is illusory prestige [Weil]