Adam Yauch Quotes

Purely altruistic behavior is pretty much impossible because of the selfish pleasures we derive from it.

There's no such thing as altruism.

People instinctively know the difference between something done with a profit motive and something done with a love motive.

Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'

Men do not value a good deed unless it brings a reward.

I think most people act in their self-interest.

We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.

It's kind of selfish to say that you're only going to fight for a victory that you will live to see.

Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it.

Men will always be powerfully influenced in their Opinions and Actions by what appears to be their particular Interest.

Philanthropy can have a very strong selfish component.

It's good to be authentic, to help other people, but if it's not helping other people, then don't do it.

Donald Trump is not some great man of virtue, but this much I'll say for him: I think he loves America, and I don't think he wants to line his own pockets.

That what appears to be egoism so often isn't.

Good deeds shun the light as anxiously as evil deeds: the latter fear that disclosure will bring on pain (as punishment), while the former fear that disclosure will take away pleasure (that pure pleasure, that pleasure per se, which immediately ceases once the vanity's satisfaction is added).

Whoever has really sacrificed anything, knows that he wanted and got something in return.

If all I cared about was me, I could make a million. And that's what they will never understand.

Just as he who gives his life to serve a great idea is admirable, he who avails himself of a great idea to serve his personal hopes of glory and power is abominable, even if he too risks his life.

Hollywood wants its heroes to be virtuous, but it defines virtue in a way that excludes any action that is self-interested. If virtue means putting others ahead of self, then it's clear that most people, let alone most capitalists, aren't very virtuous.

In brief, egoism in its modern interpretation, is the antithesis, not of altruism, but of idealism.

Every forward is selfish, and any forward who tells you he is not selfish is a liar.

We are selfish when we are exclusively or predominantly concerned with the good for ourselves. We are altruistic when we are exclusively or predominantly concerned with the good of others.

In the military, they give medals for people who are willing to sacrifice themselves so that others may survive. In business, we give bonuses to people who sacrifice others.

I don't believe we're only motivated by our own self-interests. Often out of crisis comes this enormous wellspring of generosity and motivation.

People aren't universally heroic.