In the same way that we need statesmen to spare us the abjection of exercising power, we need scholars to spare us the abjection of learning.

Neither dead nor alive, the hostage is suspended by an incalculable outcome. It is not his destiny that awaits for him, nor his own death, but anonymous chance, which can only seem to him something absolutely arbitrary. He is in a state of radical emergency, of virtual extermination.

Like dreams, statistics are a form of wish fulfillment.

If everything is perfect, language is useless. This is true for animals. If animals don't speak, it's because everything's perfect for them. If one day they start to speak, it will be because the world has lost a certain sort of perfection.

The abjection of our political situation is the only true challenge today. Only facing up to this situation in all its desperation can help us get out of it.

Philosophy leads to death, sociology leads to suicide.

This is what terrorism is occupied with as well: making real, palpable violence surface in opposition to the invisible violence of security.