Quotes About Altruism

If we can prevent something bad, without sacrificing anything of comparable significance, we ought to do it.

We do not have to make self-sacrifice a necessary element of altruism. We can regard people as altruists because of the kind of interests they have rather than because they are sacrificing their interests.

Human beings have the power to continue to oppress other species forever, or until we make this planet unsuitable for living beings. Will our tyranny continue...? Or will we rise to the challenge and prove our capacity for genuine altruism by ending the ruthless exploitation of the species in our power, not because we are forced to do so by rebels and terrorists, but because we recognize that our position is morally indefensible?

I guess basically one wants to feel that one's life has amounted to more than just consuming products and generating garbage. I think that one likes to look back and say that one's done the best one can to make this a better place for others. You can look at it from this point of view: What greater motivation can there be than doing whatever one possibly can to reduce pain and suffering?

Is the fact that other people are not doing their fair share a sufficient reason for allowing a child to die when you could easily rescue that child? I think the answer is clear: No. The others have, by refusing to help with the rescue, made themselves irrelevant. They might as well be so many rocks. According to the fair-share view, in fact, it would be better for the children if they were rocks, because then you would be obliged to wade back into the pond to save another child.

Our own happiness, therefore, is a by-product of aiming at something else and is not to be obtained by setting our sights on happiness alone.

Ben West points out that even from a selfish perspective, earning to give allows you to have things that people believe make them happy, like money and a high-status job, while still getting the fulfillment that comes from knowing you are helping to make the world a better place.

Asking people to give more than almost anyone else gives risks turning them off. It might cause some to question the point of striving to live an ethical life at all. Daunted by what it takes to do the right thing, they may ask themselves why they are bothering to try. To avoid that danger, we should advocate a level of giving that will lead to the greatest possible positive response.

Effective altruists, as we have seen, need not be utilitarians, but they share a number of moral judgments with utilitarians. In particular, they agree with utilitarians that, other things being equal, we ought to do the most good we can.

What you do for yourself, you're doing for others, and what you do for others, you're doing for yourself.

Ruth said, Love isn't just wanting another person the way you want to own an object you see in a store. That's just desire. You want to have it around, take it home and set it up somewhere in the apartment like a lamp. Love is-she paused, reflecting-like a father saving his children from a burning house, getting them out and denying himself. When you love you cease to live for yourself; you live for another person.

Ruth said, Love isn't just wanting another person the way you want to own an object you see in a store. That's just desire. You want to have it around, take it home and set it up somewhere in the apartment like a lamp. Love is-she paused, reflecting-like a father saving his children from a burning house, getting them out and dying himself. When you love you cease to live for yourself; you live for another person.

Seems to me- Lee said, feeling for the words, seems to me the place you fight cruelty is where you find it, and the place you give help is where you see it needed....

The world is a cruel place sometimes, and warm-hearted people do most of the good in it. And much of the time, they're mocked and scorned for their pains.

wants to have it both ways, rather like big corporations that give to charity and then try to reap PR benefits by hyping their altruism in their ads.

But what it does mean is that McCain2000 wants to have it both ways, rather like big corporations that give to charity and then try to reap PR benefits by hyping their altruism in their ads.

If you give out of fear or guilt, your self-esteem is not enriched; indeed, it is only diminished. You aren't really giving; the other person is taking. You are being taken advantage of, with your consent.

I gave him everything from my lunches I hate, which is called Charity.

Love without distinction. Love without calculation. Love without procrastination. Just love.

Love is not about what we feel for others— it's about what we do for others.

It's one of the secrets of strength: We're so much more likely to find it in the service of others than in service to ourselves.

Do not just seek happiness for yourself. Seek happiness for all. Through kindness. Through mercy.

You were the sun, and I wasn't even the moon. I loved being the supporting character, because I felt it was my way of supporting you. I asked for nothing in return and wanted so much.

It's one of the secrets of strength: We're so much more likely to find it in the service of others than we are to find it in ourselves.