We love everything on our own account; we even follow our…
“We love everything on our own account; we even follow our own taste and inclination when we prefer our friends to ourselves; and yet it is this preference alone that constitutes true and perfect friendship.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True friendship arises not from self‑interest but from a pure preference for the other’s good, even when we would otherwise favor ourselves.
In simple terms: Friendship is self‑less preference for another’s well‑being.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate friendships that value the other person’s happiness.
Themes
friendship
self‑lessness
human nature
Mood
reflective
philosophical
Type
maxim
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- conflicts of interest
- social bonding
Key Concepts
ethical love
interpersonal relations
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to love someone for themselves?
- Can true friendship exist without any self‑interest?
A Different Perspective
Self‑interest can still infiltrate even noble intentions.