#selfishness

Manifest plainness, Embrace simplicity, Reduce selfishness, Have few desires. ↗

— Lao Tzu

#envy #greed #illusions #selfishness #simplicity

One of the greatest evils is the foolishness of a good man. For the giving man to withhold helping someone in order to first assure personal fortification is not selfish, but to elude needless self-destruction; martyrdom is only practical when the thought is to die, else a good man faces the consequence of digging a hole from which he cannot escape, and truly helps no one in the long run. ↗

— Mike Norton

#die #dig #digging #escape #evil

More about Howl? Sophie thought desperately. I have to blacken his name! Her mind was such a blank that for a second it actually seemed to her that Howl had no faults at all. How stupid! 'Well, he's fickle, careless, selfish, and hysterical,' she said. 'Half the time I think he doesn't care what happens to anyone as long as he's alright--but then I find out how awfully kind he's been to someone. Then I think he's kind just when it suits him--only then I find out he undercharges poor people. I don't know, Your Majesty. He's a mess. ↗

— Diana Wynne Jones

#howl #howl-s-moving-castle #sophie #selfishness

Point me out the happy man and I will point you out either extreme egotism, selfishness, evil -- or else an absolute ignorance. ↗

— Graham Greene

#evil #happiness #ignorance #selfishness

Whatever joy there is in the world Arises from wishing for others' happiness. Whatever suffering there is in the world Arises from wishing for your own happiness. ↗

— -Shantideva

#selfishness #selfishness

Everyone thinks I'm showing off when I talk, ridiculous when I'm silent, insolent when I answer, cunning when I have a good idea, lazy when I'm tired, selfish when I eat one bite more than I should. ↗

— Anne Frank

#diary #world-war-ii #selfishness

Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure. ↗

— Jane Austen

#always #because #cure #forgiven #hope

Nobody knows you as well as our spouse. And that means no one will be quicker to recognize a change when you deliberately start sacrificing your wants and wishes to make sure his or her needs are met. ↗

— Stephen Kendrick

#sacrifice #selfishness #selflessness #change

Pity the selfishness of lovers: it is brief, a forlorn hope; it is impossible. ↗

— Elizabeth Bowen

#forlorn #hope #impossible #lovers #pity