Carolyn Gold Heilbrun Quotes

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.

Self-sacrifice enables us to sacrifice other people without blushing.

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

Generosity is the only legitimate selfishness.

The egoist does not tolerate egoism.

I open the door for old ladies, I help old ladies across the road. I do a show for leukemia every year, but I don't broadcast that because it's against my image.

The more good I do, the more money has come in. You have to learn to give. You're not born to give. You're born selfish.

I'm a really selfish person. But I would do anything for my friends.

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.

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

He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies.

We'd all like a reputation for generosity, and we'd all like to buy it cheap.

I don't know if it's ever OK for someone to be selfish. Perhaps there's a time and place to be self-centered, but I think selfish never wins the race.

Childlessness doesn't make people selfish; selfishness makes people selfish.

This idea of selfishness as a virtue, as opposed to generosity: That, to me, is unnatural.

I recognize that I have the ability to be selfish, but I also recognize that you can't be happy if you only care about yourself at the expense of other people.

From this it follows that con-sideration for other persons or for other living beings is very vital for goodness and want of consideration for other people makes human beings selfish, regardless for other people's good.

The essence of immorality is the tendency to make an exception of myself.

For myself, suffering doesnt make me a good person; it makes me selfish. Why do we think that people who have less should find it edifying?

Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and choosing to be curious about other people.

I'm really interested in the difference between selfishness and generosity. It confuses me to no end because sometimes it all just feels like pure indulgence on my part.

I don't like people who are just takers.

There is a sign that hangs on my wall that says, 'What is it you want me to do to somebody else that is more important than what you want me to do for you?'

Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish.

Courtesy is only a thin veneer on the general selfishness.