Quotes About Self-interest

People do not necessarily vote in their self-interest. They vote their identity. They vote their values. They vote for who they identify with.

Ser Barristan loves his honor, Grand Maester Pycelle loves his office, and Littlefinger loves Littlefinger.

People work together when it suits them. They're loyal when it suits them. They love each other when it suits them. And they kill each other when it suits them.

The working of great institutions is mainly the result of a vast mass of routine, petty malice, self interest, carelessness, and sheer mistake. Only a residual fraction is thought.

The warrior's nobility is like a prostitute's smile, the truth of which is self-interest.

My commitment to the security and future of Israel is based upon basic morality as well as enlightened self-interest. Our role in supporting Israel honors our own heritage.

The virtues and the vices are all put in motion by interest.

Für wahre Marktgläubige macht es keinen Sinn, wenn du sagst, dass es dir kein Vergnügen macht, dich in einen Wettbewerb mit deinen Mitmenschen zu begeben, und dass du dich lieber zurückziehen möchtest. Du kannst dich ja zurückziehen, wenn du möchtest, sagen sie, aber deine Konkurrenten werden es ganz gewiss nicht tun. Sobald du deine Waffen niederlegst, wirst du abgeschlachtet. Wir sind unausweichlich gefangen in einem Krieg aller gegen alle.

He was stronger and tougher—and she had to believe, even if it went against every core principle she personally had, that his single-minded, unwavering commitment to himself was going to see him through this better than her compassionate interest in others. Weight carried, whether it was physically, mentally, or emotionally, slowed you down.

The beauty and riddle in studying the motives of any politician is in trying to decide what is idealism and what is self-interest, and often we are left to conclude that the answer is a mixture of the two.

When you objectively observe the most spiritual area to which modern people devote themselves, the religions, ask yourself if the basis of modern culture, particularly in religion, is not human self-interest. It is typical of modern sermons that the preacher criticizes people for their selfishness.

Even wisdom has to yield to self-interest.

Ninety percent of what we believe has nothing to do with the process of thought, but comes instead from the four sources of family inheritance, individual temperament, national culture, and economic self-interest; and while we cannot wholly cast off these shackles, we should at least recognize their cramping and distorting influence upon the free process of thought.

only a fool obeys the law if it is against his own advantage.

Ethical egoism is the thesis that a person should act to promote his own interest. More precisely, it is the view that each person's primary moral obligation is to achieve his own well-being and he should not sacrifice his well-being for the well-being of others.

Contrary to the prevalent image of the egoist as oblivious to all standards and moved entirely by what he wants, when he wants it, Rand sees such an erratic, emotion-driven course as a sure way to sabotage one's well-being. Serving one's interest requires action guided by the recognition of certain constant, fundamental facts. These facts are the basis of moral principles.

Politics is the art of enriching oneself, the art of robbery.

I view the world as incidental to my aims, while he cannot allow someone with enhanced intelligence to work purely in self-interest.

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

And seeing every man is presumed to do all things in order to his own benefit, no man is a fit Arbitrator in his own cause

Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.

Each man does seek his own interest, but, unfortunately, not according to the dictates of reason.

Every man looks out for himself, and he has the happiest life who manages to hoodwink himself best of all.

Men are not against you, they are merely for themselves.