Full Idea
The human soul has need of disciplined participation in a common task of public value, and it has need of personal initiative within this participation.
Gist of Idea
We all need to partipate in public tasks, and take some initiative
Source
Simone Weil (Draft Statement of Human Obligations [1943], p.229)
Book Reference
Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.229
A Reaction
The intrusion of competitive capitalism into almost every area of modern life has more or less eliminated such activities. Only state employees now have such satisfactions, on the whole. I admire Weil's approach here.