--- title: "9 Selfish Quotes By George Bernard Shaw" description: "9 Selfish quotes by George Bernard Shaw. Plus more from George Bernard Shaw and more Selfish sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/george-bernard-shaw-68_inspirational_nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work-1_1465907.png" --- > [Nothing makes a man so selfish as work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/george-bernard-shaw-68_inspirational_nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work-1_1465907.png) > [It's usually pointed out that women are not fit for political power, and ought not to be trusted with a vote because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/it-s-usually-pointed-out-that-women-are-not-fit-for-political-power/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/george-bernard-shaw-68_enough_it-s-usually-pointed-out-that-women-are_1485369.png) > [I find that the moment I let a woman make friends with me, she becomes jealous, exacting, suspicious, and a damned nuisance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-find-that-the-moment-i-let-a-woman-make-friends-with-me-she-becomes/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/george-bernard-shaw-68_friendship_i-find-that-the-moment-i-let-a-woman-mak_719653.png) > [Capitalism justified itself and was adopted as an economic principle on the express ground that it provides selfish motives for doing good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adopted-as-an-economic-principle/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/george-bernard-shaw-68_adopted_capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adop_78146.png) > [Affection between adults - if they are really adult in mind and not merely grown up children - and creatures so relatively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/affection-between-adults-if-they-are-really-adult-in-mind-and-not/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/george-bernard-shaw-68_adults_affection-between-adults-if-they-are-rea_1211464.png) > [This is the true joy of life-the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being thoroughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/this-is-the-true-joy-of-life-the-being-used-for-a-purpose-recognized/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-of-life-the-being-u_2584445.jpg) > [In socialism, private property is anathema, and equal distribution of income the first consideration. In capitalism, private property is cardinal, and distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-socialism-private-property-is-anathema-and-equal-distribution-of/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/george-bernard-shaw-68_capitalism_in-socialism-private-property-is-anathem_1974344.png) > [This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/this-is-the-true-joy-in-life-being-used-for-a-purpose-recognized-by/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-in-life-being-used_1321007.jpg) > [I am giving you examples of the fact that this creature man, who in his own selfish affairs is a coward to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-am-giving-you-examples-of-the-fact-that-this-creature-man-who-in/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/george-bernard-shaw-68_affair_i-am-giving-you-examples-of-the-fact-tha_1004267.jpg) ## Other authors on Selfish ## More by George Bernard Shaw > [I love little children too but I don't cut off their heads and stick them in vases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-love-little-children-too-but-i-don-t-cut-off-their-heads-and-stick/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Blasphemy and sedition (meaning the truth about Church and State).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/blasphemy-and-sedition-meaning-the-truth-about-church-and-state/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In the arts of life, man invents nothing; but in the arts of death he outdoes Nature herself, and produces by chemistry and machinery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-the-arts-of-life-man-invents-nothing-but-in-the-arts-of-death-he/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“My religious convictions and scientific views cannot at present be more specifically defined than as those of a believer in creative evolution. I desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/my-religious-convictions-and-scientific-views-cannot-at-present-be/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [What a man believes may be ascertained, not from his creed, but from the assumptions on which he habitually acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/what-a-man-believes-may-be-ascertained-not-from-his-creed-but-from/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-are-my-inspiration-and-my-folly-you-are-my-light-across-the-sea/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Men have to do some awfully mean things to keep up their respectability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/men-have-to-do-some-awfully-mean-things-to-keep-up-their/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The schoolmaster is the person who takes the children off the parents' hands for a consideration. That is to say, he establishes a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-schoolmaster-is-the-person-who-takes-the-children-off-the-parents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-long-as-i-have-a-want-i-have-a-reason-for-living-satisfaction-is/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The camera can represent flesh so superbly that, if I dared, I would never photograph a figure without asking that figure to take its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-camera-can-represent-flesh-so-superbly-that-if-i-dared-i-would/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [A man who is not a communist at the age of twenty is a fool. Any man who is still communist at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-man-who-is-not-a-communist-at-the-age-of-twenty-is-a-fool-any-man/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [But to admire a strong person and to live under that strong person’s thumb are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/but-to-admire-a-strong-person-and-to-live-under-that-strong-person-s/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/socialism-is-the-same-as-communism-only-better-english/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The person who is ignorant enough to believe that his nourishment depends on meat is in a horrible dilemma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-person-who-is-ignorant-enough-to-believe-that-his-nourishment/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In the arts of peace Man is a bungler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-the-arts-of-peace-man-is-a-bungler/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/george-bernard-shaw/#itemlist", "name": "9 Selfish Quotes By George Bernard Shaw", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing makes a man so selfish as work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/george-bernard-shaw-68_inspirational_nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work-1_1465907.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/george-bernard-shaw-68_inspirational_nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work-1_1465907.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/george-bernard-shaw-68_inspirational_nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work-1_1465907.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing makes a man so selfish as work.” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's usually pointed out that women are not fit for political power, and ought not to be trusted with a vote because they are politically ignorant, socially prejudiced, narrow-minded, and selfish. True enough, but precisely the same is true of men!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/it-s-usually-pointed-out-that-women-are-not-fit-for-political-power/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/george-bernard-shaw-68_enough_it-s-usually-pointed-out-that-women-are_1485369.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/george-bernard-shaw-68_enough_it-s-usually-pointed-out-that-women-are_1485369.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/george-bernard-shaw-68_enough_it-s-usually-pointed-out-that-women-are_1485369.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's usually pointed out that women are not fit for political power, and ought not to be trusted with a vote…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I find that the moment I let a woman make friends with me, she becomes jealous, exacting, suspicious, and a damned nuisance. I find that the moment I let myself make friends with a woman, I become selfish and tyrannical.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-find-that-the-moment-i-let-a-woman-make-friends-with-me-she-becomes/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/george-bernard-shaw-68_friendship_i-find-that-the-moment-i-let-a-woman-mak_719653.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/george-bernard-shaw-68_friendship_i-find-that-the-moment-i-let-a-woman-mak_719653.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/george-bernard-shaw-68_friendship_i-find-that-the-moment-i-let-a-woman-mak_719653.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I find that the moment I let a woman make friends with me, she becomes jealous, exacting, suspicious, and a…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Capitalism justified itself and was adopted as an economic principle on the express ground that it provides selfish motives for doing good, and that human beings will do nothing except for selfish motives", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adopted-as-an-economic-principle/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/george-bernard-shaw-68_adopted_capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adop_78146.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/george-bernard-shaw-68_adopted_capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adop_78146.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/george-bernard-shaw-68_adopted_capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adop_78146.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Capitalism justified itself and was adopted as an economic principle on the express ground that it provides…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Affection between adults - if they are really adult in mind and not merely grown up children - and creatures so relatively selfish and cruel as children necessarily are without knowing it or meaning it, cannot be called natural.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/affection-between-adults-if-they-are-really-adult-in-mind-and-not/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/george-bernard-shaw-68_adults_affection-between-adults-if-they-are-rea_1211464.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/george-bernard-shaw-68_adults_affection-between-adults-if-they-are-rea_1211464.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/george-bernard-shaw-68_adults_affection-between-adults-if-they-are-rea_1211464.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Affection between adults - if they are really adult in mind and not merely grown up children - and creatures…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the true joy of life-the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown to the scrap-heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish clod of ailments and grievances.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/this-is-the-true-joy-of-life-the-being-used-for-a-purpose-recognized/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-of-life-the-being-u_2584445.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-of-life-the-being-u_2584445.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-of-life-the-being-u_2584445.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the true joy of life-the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In socialism, private property is anathema, and equal distribution of income the first consideration. In capitalism, private property is cardinal, and distribution left to ensue from the play of free contract and selfish interest on that basis, no matter what anomalies it may present.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-socialism-private-property-is-anathema-and-equal-distribution-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/george-bernard-shaw-68_capitalism_in-socialism-private-property-is-anathem_1974344.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/george-bernard-shaw-68_capitalism_in-socialism-private-property-is-anathem_1974344.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/george-bernard-shaw-68_capitalism_in-socialism-private-property-is-anathem_1974344.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In socialism, private property is anathema, and equal distribution of income the first consideration. In…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/this-is-the-true-joy-in-life-being-used-for-a-purpose-recognized-by/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-in-life-being-used_1321007.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-in-life-being-used_1321007.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/george-bernard-shaw-68_ailments_this-is-the-true-joy-in-life-being-used_1321007.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am giving you examples of the fact that this creature man, who in his own selfish affairs is a coward to the backbone, will fight for an idea like a hero. . . . I tell you, gentlemen, if you can shew a man a piece of what he now calls God's work to do, and what he will later call by many new names, you can make him entirely reckless of the consequences to himself personally.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-am-giving-you-examples-of-the-fact-that-this-creature-man-who-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/george-bernard-shaw-68_affair_i-am-giving-you-examples-of-the-fact-tha_1004267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/george-bernard-shaw-68_affair_i-am-giving-you-examples-of-the-fact-tha_1004267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/george-bernard-shaw-68_affair_i-am-giving-you-examples-of-the-fact-tha_1004267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am giving you examples of the fact that this creature man, who in his own selfish affairs is a coward to…” — George Bernard Shaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/george-bernard-shaw/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/george-bernard-shaw/", "name": "Selfish Quotes by George Bernard Shaw", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/george-bernard-shaw/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/george-bernard-shaw-68_inspirational_nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work-1_1465907.png" }, "description": "9 Selfish quotes by George Bernard Shaw. Plus more from George Bernard Shaw and more Selfish sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/george-bernard-shaw/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/george-bernard-shaw/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Selfish", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "George Bernard Shaw", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/george-bernard-shaw/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```