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No, no! The devil is an egotist, And is not apt, without…

“No, no! The devil is an egotist, And is not apt, without why or wherefore, "For God's sake," others to assist. [Ger., Nein, nein! Der Teufel ist ein Egoist Und thut nicht leicht um Gottes Willen, Was einem Andern nutzlich ist.]” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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“No, no! The devil is an egotist, And is not apt, without why or wherefore, "For God's sake," others to assist. [Ger., Nein, nein! Der Teufel ist ein Egoist Und thut nicht leicht um Gottes Willen, Was einem Andern nutzlich ist.]”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Egotism drives selfish actions, ignoring moral constraints and the need for humility.

In simple terms: Ego leads to selfishness.

Key Takeaway

Practice humility.

Themes

ego morality humility selfishness philosophy

Mood

introspective serious

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • leadership
  • personal development
  • conflict resolution
  • spiritual growth
  • literary analysis

Key Concepts

Ethical self‑control moral philosophy human nature

Questions to Reflect On

  • What role does ego play in your decisions?
  • How can humility balance ambition?
A Different Perspective

Human nature is complex; not all ego is negative.

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