Skip to content

Reason tends to check selfish impulses and to grant the…

“Reason tends to check selfish impulses and to grant the satisfaction of legitimate impulses in others.” quote by Reinhold Niebuhr
Download Open image
“Reason tends to check selfish impulses and to grant the satisfaction of legitimate impulses in others.”

Reinhold Niebuhr

About This Quote

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

Moral reasoning helps control selfish desires while allowing legitimate desires of others to be fulfilled, promoting balanced ethical behavior.

In simple terms: Reason checks selfishness and supports others’ rightful desires.

Key Takeaway

Apply reason to balance self‑interest and others’ needs.

Themes

ethics reason self‑interest social justice balance

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • decision making
  • conflict resolution
  • leadership
  • community building

Key Concepts

moral philosophy psychology social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we cultivate both reason and empathy?
  • When does reason fail to curb selfishness?
A Different Perspective

Reason alone may not overcome deep‑rooted selfish impulses without emotional intelligence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Reinhold Niebuhr

Explore all 200 Reinhold Niebuhr quotes

More Checks quotes

Browse all 1,697 Checks quotes