Self Interest Quotes - Page 2

• Where self-interest is violently suppressed, it is replaced by a burdensome system of bureaucratic control which dries up the wellsprings of initiative and creativity.

  P. J. O'Rourke

  Creativity, Self, Initiative

  "Centesimus Annus". Encyclical Letter by Pope John Paul II, w2.vatican.va. May 01, 1991.

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• To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.

  William Shakespeare

  Inspirational, Graduation, Honesty

  'Hamlet' (1601) act 1, sc. 3, l. 58

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• Human beings are emotional amoral egoists, driven above all by emotional self-interest. All of our thoughts, beliefs and motivations are neurochemically mediated, some predetermined for survival, others alterable.

  Nayef Al-Rodhan

  Motivation, Emotional, Self

  "Sustainable History and the Dignity of Man: A Philosophy of History and Civilisational Triumph". Book by Nayef Al-Rodhan, 2009.

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• Even wisdom has to yield to self-interest.

  Pindar

  Wisdom, Yield, Self

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• No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.

  Adam Smith

  Happiness, Equality, Society

  Adam Smith (1827). “An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”, p.33

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• Remember how often you have postponed minding your interest, and let slip those opportunities the gods have given you. It is now high time to consider what sort of world you are part of, and from what kind of governor of it you are descended; that you have a set period assigned you to act in, and unless you improve it to brighten and compose your thoughts, it will quickly run off with you, and be lost beyond recovery.

  Marcus Aurelius

  Running, Time, Recovery

  Marcus Aurelius (Emperor of Rome) (1887). “The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius”

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• Self-interest is but the survival of the animal in us. Humanity only begins for man with self-surrender.

  Henri Frederic Amiel

  Animal, Men, Self

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• Happiness lies in making others happy, in forsaking self-interest to bring joy to others.

  Paramahansa Yogananda

  Happiness, Lying, Self

  Yogananda (Paramahansa) (1971). “Self-realization”

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• Friendship without self-interest is one of the rare and beautiful things of life.

  James F. Byrnes

  Friendship, Beautiful, Self

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• The greatest productive force is human selfishness.

  Robert A. Heinlein

  Liberty, Selfishness, Libertarian

  Robert A. Heinlein (1987). “Time Enough for Love”, p.325, Penguin

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• The cost of leadership is self-interest.

  Simon Sinek

  Self, Cost, Interest

  Twitter post from Jul 10, 2013

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• The secret to happiness is short-term, stupid self-interest!

  Bill Watterson

  Stupid, Self, Secret

  "Calvin and Hobbes". Book by Bill Watterson, April 1987.

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• Ordinarily, everything we do is in our self-interest. Everything.

  Anthony de Mello

  Self, Interest

  Anthony De Mello (2011). “Awareness: Conversations with the Masters”, p.23, Image

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• We must keep on trying to solve problems, one by one, stage by stage, if not on the basis of confidence and cooperation, at least on that of mutual toleration and self-interest.

  Lester B. Pearson

  Confidence, Self, Trying

  Lester B. Pearson (1964). “The Four Faces of Peace and the International Outlook: Statements”, McClelland and Stewart

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• Capital must be propelled by self-interest; it cannot be enticed by benevolence.

  Walter Bagehot

  Self, Interest, Benevolence

  Walter Bagehot, Richard Holt Hutton (1889). “The Works of Walter Bagehot: With Memoirs by R. H. Hutton”

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• As our self-interests differ, so do our feelings.

  Pierre Corneille

  Self, Feelings, Cynicism

  "Character: Cornélie". "La Mort de Pompée" by Pierre Corneille, act V, scene ii, 1642.

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• For the world is only governed by self-interest.

  Friedrich Schiller

  Self, World, Interest

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• The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-interest always runs a good race.

  Gough Whitlam

  Running, Horse, Memorable

  London Daily Telegraph, October 19, 1989.

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• It's proper that people have friends, friendships without self-interest. Without friends, life is too lonely.

  Pramoedya Ananta Toer

  Lonely, Self, People

  "Awakenings".

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• Sexual attraction keeps throwing self-interest off course.

  Mason Cooley

  Self, Desire, Throwing

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• People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.

  Adam Smith

  Invisible Hand, People, Competition

  An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations vol. 1, bk. 1, ch. 10 (1776)

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• The visual arts must communicate to the human spirit, forcing individuals to reflect on themselves and their existence beyond their own self-interest.

  Dean Mitchell

  Art, Self, Spirit

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• When things are too easy I lose interest in them so I find ways to complicate them to get myself interested.

  Richard Marx

  Way, Easy, Interest

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• Self-interest is hostile to the common good, but enlightened self-interest is not. And this is the best key to the meaning of enlightenment.

  Allan Bloom

  Keys, Self, Enlightenment

  Allan Bloom (2008). “Closing of the American Mind”, p.167, Simon and Schuster

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• I am easy-going right up to the borders of my self-interest.

  Mason Cooley

  Self, Borders, Easy

  "City Aphorisms: Sixth Selection". Book by Mason Cooley, 1989.

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