Gavin Hood Quotes

I think 80 percent of the population are really great, caring people who will help you and tell you the truth. That's just the way it is. And I think 20 percent of the population are crooks and liars. It's just a fact.

Why do we have 47 million people without health care? Because America has become about 'me'. What's happened to 'we' as a people? I believe in that and that resonates to most people.

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

Sometimes it's more important to be human, than to have good taste.

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

We should govern our actions by assuming that people are more good than bad. Whereas, most of our social policies dictate that people are more bad than good. That you know if you do something, it'll be seized by the rich to exploit the poor.

The major forces in human nature: self interest and caring for others

I have nothing against rich brothers and sisters. Pray for 'em every day. But callousness and indifference, greed and avarice is something that's shot through all of us.

There is some pretty powerful self-interest in wanting a future that is not just running storm-to-storm. The argument that I make is not that we aren't competitive and selfish and greedy. We are. We're all of these things. We're complicated, competitive, greedy and nasty, and kind and generous and compassionate.

Humanity has both its beautiful and its ugly sides.

Whenever I find a great deal of gratitude in a poor man, I take it for granted there would be as much generosity if he were a rich man.

We seldom find people ungrateful so long as it is thought we can serve them.

The beloved of the Almighty are: the rich who have the humility of the poor, and the poor who have the magnanimity of the rich.

I'm a big believer in human nature.

Sadly, because of the enormous gap between rich and poor, some mothers can afford helpers, but many can't. Those who can would be kinder to refrain from criticizing other women.

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

Men are only as great as they are kind.

There's no such thing as altruism.

I think it's extremely difficult consistently being a decent human being.

The argument of socialists, that people really want to share, beyond a reasonable level of charity, is rubbish, though it is espoused by a lot of rich, pious hypocrites who want to share only enough to avoid widespread starvation, mob violence, and government seizure of more of their incomes.

Good people don't spend their time being good. Good people want to spend their time mowing the lawn and playing with the dog. But bad people spend all their time being bad. It is all they think about.

Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.

A rich man without charity is a rogue; and perhaps it would be no difficult matter to prove that he is also a fool.

Be charitable before wealth makes you covetous.

The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines.