Quotes About Selflessness

Spiritual power begins by directing animal power to other than egoistic ends.

I believe the first test of a truly great man is in his humility.

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small parcel.

Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness: On the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as itself, an ideal end. Aiming thus, at something else, they find happiness, by the way.

A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness: on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit followed not as a means, but as itself an ideal end. Aiming at something else, they find happiness by the way.

But I now thought that this end [one's happiness] was only to be attained by not making it the direct end. Those only are happy (I thought) who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness[....] Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness along the way[....] Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so.

On the average, a person who cares for other people, for his country, or for mankind, is a happier man than one who does not; but of what use is it to preach this doctrine to a man who cares for nothing but his own ease, or his own pocket? He cannot care for other people if he would. It is like preaching to the worm who crawls on the ground, how much better it would be for him if he were an eagle.

All honor to those who can abnegate for themselves the personal enjoyment of life, when by such renunciation they contribute worthily to increase the amount of happiness in the world; but he who does it, or professes to do it, for any other purpose, is no more deserving of admiration than the ascetic mounted on his pillar.

He had no desire to grandstand for his country or himself.

They are fools that fear to lose their wealth by giving, but fear not to lose themselves by keeping it.

Pure, unconditional love shines through when people put themselves—their own demands and agendas—aside and completely open to one another.

True humility is a kind of self-annihilation; and this is the centre of all virtues.

To do good in secret, and shun the world's applause, is the surest testimony of a virtuous heart and self-approving conscience.

To care not for one's self is of little moment, but to care not for those whom one has loved is another matter.

When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives" (James 4:3).

You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.

You can't live a perfect day until you do something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

Happiness begins where selfishness ends.

Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.

And then I remembered that one time, when I was pregnant with Chrissy, I had looked down at my big stomach and put my hand over it and thought: Whoever you are, you do not belong to me. My job is to help you get into the world, but you do not belong to me.

There is only one reason I did not go down in flames over the Angers, and that is because I knew I had Julie in the back. Would never have had the presence of mind to put that fire out if I hadn't been trying to save her life.