Our infinite obligations to God do not fill our hearts half as much as a petty uneasiness of our own; nor his infinite perfections as much as our smallest wants.
—Hannah More
Milton has carefully marked, in his Satan, the intense selfishness which would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
It is very natural for a young friend and a young lover to think the persons they love have nothing to do but to please them.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
There are some tempers wrought up by habitual selfishness to an utter insensibility of what becomes of the fortunes of their fellow-creatures, as if they were not partakers of the same nature or had no lot or connection at all with the species.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Did any man, at his death, ever regret his conflicts with himself, his victories over appetite, his scorn of impure pleasure, or his sufferings for righteousness’ sake?
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Self is ingenious, crooked, and, governed by subtle and snaky desire, admits of endless turnings and qualifications, and the deluded worshippers of self vainly imagine that they can gratify every worldly desire, and at the same time possess the Truth
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Lovers never get tired of each other because they are forever talking about themselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The very heart and root of sin is an independent spirit.—We erect the idol self, and not only wish others to worship, but worship it ourselves.
—Richard Cecil
Where all are selfish, the sage is no better than the fool, and only rather more dangerous.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
You have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you have decided to have it all for yourself. And how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish.
—Anita Brookner (1928–2016) English Novelist, Art Historian
A little group of willful men reflecting no opinion but their own have rendered the great Government of the United States helpless and contemptible.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
We are all selfish and I no more trust myself than others with a good motive.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
He who takes but never gives, may last for years but never lives.
—Unknown
If your prayer is selfish, the answer will be something that will rebuke your selfishness. You may not recognize it as having come at all, but it is sure to be there.
—William Temple (1881–1944) English Theologian, Archbishop
Those who are most disinterested, and have the least of selfishness, have best materials for being happy.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
The human being who lives only for himself finally reaps nothing but unhappiness. Selfishness corrodes. Unselfishness ennobles, satisfies. Don’t put off the joy derivable from doing helpful, kindly things for others.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Human history is the sad result of each one looking out for himself.
—Julio Cortazar (1914–84) Argentine-French Novelist, Translator, Short Story Writer
A red rose is not selfish because it wants to be a red rose. It would be horribly selfish if it wanted all the other flowers in the garden to be both red and roses.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Selfishness at the expense of others’ happiness is demonism.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Long before Einstein told us that matter is energy, Machiavelli and Hobbes and other modern political philosophers defined man as a lump of matter whose most politically relevant attribute is a form of energy called “self-interestedness.” This was not a portrait of man “warts and all.” It was all wart.
—George Will (b.1941) American Columnist, Author, Commentator
If you wish to be miserable, think about yourself; about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay you, what people think of you; and then to you nothing will be pure. You will spoil everything you touch; you will make sin and misery for yourself out of everything God sends you; you will be as wretched as you choose.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
As selfishness and complaint pervert and cloud the mind, so love with its joy clears and sharpens the vision.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Modesty and unselfishness – these are virtues which men praise – and pass by.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Twin-sister of Religion, Selfishness
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
A wise unselfishness is not a surrender of yourself to the wishes of anyone, but only to the best discoverable course of action.
—David Seabury (1885–1960) American Psychologist
The selfish man suffers more from his selfishness than he from whom that selfishness withholds some important benefit.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
knowledge is hidden by selfish desire—hidden by this unquenchable fire for self-satisfaction.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
He who makes an idol of his self-interest, will often make a martyr of his integrity.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
The man who lives by himself and for himself is likely to be corrupted by the company he keeps.
—Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933) American Clergyman, Civic Reformer
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