John Muir Quotes

Only a very small percentage can regard conditions from any but a selfish point of view or conceive of any but their own shoe-pinch.

A person wrapped up in himself makes a small package.

Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without himself.

Fear's greatest weapon is its ability to blind one to anything. In its presence, we forget there are others to consider, things to save besides ourselves.

Selfishness is blind.

In men this blunder still you find; all think their little set mankind.

People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.

None are so inconsiderate as those who demand nothing of life other than their own personal comfort.

Selfishness comes from poverty in the heart, from the belief that love is not abundant.

An ignorant man believes that the whole universe only exists for him: as if nothing else required any consideration. If, therefore, anything happens to him contrary to his expectation, he at once concludes that the whole universe is evil. If, however, he would take into consideration the whole universe, form an idea of it, and comprehend what a small portion he is of the Universe, he will find the truth. There are many ... passages in the books of the prophets expressing the same idea.

It's very easy to become selfish and narrow-minded and see ballet as the only thing in life, but there's lots more.

The howl of self-interest is loud ... but the heart is black which throbs solely to its note.

Consider any individual at any period of his life, and you will always find him preoccupied with fresh plans to increase his comfort. Do not talk to him about the interests and rights of the human race; that little private business of his for the moment absorbs all his thoughts, and he hopes that public disturbances can be put off to some other time.

Thorough selfishness destroys or paralyzes enjoyment. A heart made selfish by the contest for wealth is like a citadel stormed in war, utterly shattered.

Imagining that you are deep and complex, but others are simple, is one of the primary signs of malignant selfishness.

In your 20s - and these are generalizations of course - I feel like I didn't care about as many things or as many people, or even myself, as much. There's more recklessness and more ruthlessness; you're not as considerate of how things land with other people I think.

Envy is a littleness of soul, which cannot see beyond a certain point, and if it does not occupy the whole space feels itself excluded.

She didn't know there were things worse than selfish.

I was a normal child. Which is to say, I was selfish and I was not entirely convinced of the existence of things that were not me, and I was certain, rock-solid, unshakeably certain, that I was the most important thing in creation. There was nothing that was more important to me than I was.

See, Cameron. The only things I care about in this life are me, you, Mum, Dad, Steve and Sarah. And maybe Miffy. The rest of the world means nothing to me. The rest of the world can rot.' Am I like that too?' You? No way.' There's a slight gap in his words. 'And that's your problem. You care about everything.' He's right. I do.

Selfishness and self-absorption are deadly charm-exterminators.

The greatest crimes do not arise from a want of feeling for others but from an over-sensibilit y for ourselves and an over-indulgence to our own desires

He who lives only for himself is truly dead to others.

To be extremely self-centred, only interested in your own satisfaction, always brings negative consequences in the long run.

...in consequence of the film of familiarity and selfish solicitude, we have eyes yet see not, ears that hear not, and hearts that neither feel nor understand.