Economics Quote by Adam M. Grant
““The intelligent altruists, though less altruistic than the unintelligent altruists, will be fitter than both unintelligent altruists and selfish individuals. —Herbert Simon, Nobel Prize winner in economics””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Nobel Prize Lecture, 1978
Intelligent altruists, though less selfless than naive altruists, are more evolutionarily fit than both selfish people and unintelligent altruists.
In simple terms: Smart helpers are more successful than pure selfishness or naive kindness.
Cultivate informed, strategic helping.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- business leadership
- public policy
- community organizing
- education programs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “intelligent altruism” mean to you?
- Can strategic helping be truly selfless?
Strategic altruism may overlook genuine compassion; measuring “intelligence” is complex.