Deepak Chopra Quotes

We need leaders who appeal to us to think about something other than narrow self-interest but instead focus upon the greater good.

You have tremendous flexibility in defining both the greater good and the greater community. If you don't succeed in this, then you will continue to pull that heavy wagon up the mountain, and despite the fact that you are pulling it, it will somehow run over your own foot.

Everyone thinks chiefly of his own, hardly ever of the public interest.

Private passions tire and exhaust themselves, public ones never.

Every man is to be considered in two capacities, the private and public; as designed to pursue his own interest, and likewise to contribute to the good of others.

To be interested in the public good we must be disinterested, that is, not interested in goods in which our personal selves are wrapped up.

Seek a common good beyond your comfort.

It is the essence of responsibility to put the public good ahead of personal gain.

Democracy is based upon empathy and the recognition that some decisions are solely for the community's benefit without regard to one's own narrow self-interest.

Upon the principles of reason, the good of many is preferable to the good of a few or of one; a lasting good is to be preferred before a temporary, the public before the private.

There is little evidence that other animals judge the appropriateness of actions that do not directly affect themselves.

Where do the evils like corruption arise from? It comes from the never-ending greed. The fight for corruption-free ethical society will have to be fought against this greed and replace it with 'what can I give' spirit.

If I, taking care of everyone's interests, also take care of my own, you can't talk about a conflict of interest.

I always knew that I wanted to do the most that I could for the most people.

I try to persuade people to act in ways that are not only in their own interest, but in the interest of society at large.

The true basis of morality is utility; that is, the adaptation of our actions to the promotion of the general welfare and happiness; the endeavour so to rule our lives that we may serve and bless mankind.

People should only profit to the extent they make other peoples lives better.

One who works for his own profit is likely to work hard. One who works for the use of others, without profit to himself, is likely not to work any harder than he must.

I feel really ambiguous about the psychology of people trying to do good in the world.

No man has come to true greatness who has not felt that his life belongs to his race, and that which God gives to him, He gives him for mankind.

We all have our own purpose in life and I feel very strongly that I have a bigger purpose than giving to just my immediate family and friends.

No decisions should ever be made without asking the question, is this for the common good?

He who is unconscious of the ties which connect him with every individual of his species feels no obligation to make sacrifices for their welfare or happiness.

Liberals worry that what's best for the individual might not be better for the public at large. But that philosophy assumes something vicious about each and every one of us. It assumes we only care about ourselves.

I love to be able to do something positive with what celebrity I have. I like to be able to make it about something bigger than me; if I can help in some way, I'm happy to do that.