To feel much for others and little for ourselves; to…
“To feel much for others and little for ourselves; to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections, constitute the perfection of human nature.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human perfection involves feeling deeply for others while limiting selfishness, cultivating benevolent affection.
In simple terms: Balancing empathy and self‑interest defines humanity.
Key Takeaway
Practice empathy and curb selfish impulses.
Themes
morality
human nature
benevolence
Mood
reflective
ethical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- volunteering
- community service
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
social harmony
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we measure benevolent affection?
- What practices reduce selfishness?
A Different Perspective
Self‑interest can be hard to suppress; cultural factors vary.