--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Deep down, everything boils down (\"au…" description: "\"Deep down, everything boils down (\"au fond tout se ramène\", Fr.) to the following simple question; Do we really want justice and the realization in thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/african-spir-10042_deep-down_deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond_1325907.jpg" --- # Deep down, everything boils down ("au fond tout se… ![“Deep down, everything boils down ("au fond tout se ramène", Fr.) to the following simple question; Do we really want justice and the realization in this world of higher principles, or else do we want to serve selfish, short-sighted (à courte vue", Fr.) interests, which, when all is said and done…” quote by African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/african-spir-10042_deep-down_deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond_1325907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/african-spir-10042_deep-down_deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond_1325907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/african-spir-10042_deep-down_deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond_1325907.jpg) > “Deep down, everything boils down ("au fond tout se ramène", Fr.) to the following simple question; Do we really want justice and the realization in this world of higher principles, or else do we want to serve selfish, short-sighted (à courte vue", Fr.) interests, which, when all is said and done, are also prejudicial (or detrimental, or harmful) to those very same that pursue them?” [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice versus selfish interests reflects a moral choice between higher principles and short‑term gain. **In simple terms:** Choose justice over self‑interest. Key Takeaway Prioritize ethical principles over personal gain. Themes ethics justice self‑interest Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - business decisions - public policy - personal dilemmas Key Concepts moral philosophy human nature principles Questions to Reflect On - What principles guide your decisions? - How do you balance personal benefit with collective good? A Different Perspective Self‑interest often rationalizes harm, undermining societal trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-down/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization/) [Short sighted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-sighted/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the ends you serve that are for all, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/the-ends-you-serve-that-are-selfish-will-take-you-no-further-than/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [“I am not interested in your religious beliefs; I am interested to see the ways you add value to society, to the spaces around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-am-not-interested-in-your-religious-beliefs-i-am-interested-to-see/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steele/we-want-to-convey-that-the-modern-day-gop-looks-like-the-conservative/) [Michael Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steele/) > [I think there are universal principles that we should want to understand, but that are not necessarily good for us. We could recognise universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/i-think-there-are-universal-principles-that-we-should-want-to/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“We want justice! We want justice!’ We chanted at the Western Oil Company building; the mirrored glass showed our reflections multiplied as though we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-watson/we-want-justice-we-want-justice-we-chanted-at-the-western-oil-company/) [Christie Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-watson/) > [I would like to believe the majority of Americans want to see justice done, and they are not interested in financing the detention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-would-like-to-believe-the-majority-of-americans-want-to-see-justice/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [We have allowed the system to be so corrupted that many want justice to be "empathetic," not blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-have-allowed-the-system-to-be-so-corrupted-that-many-want-justice/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [I know my position now as a role model for many, and I want to do them justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-know-my-position-now-as-a-role-model-for-many-and-i-want-to-do-them/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [“It’s not wrong to want justice, to desire to right a wrong or help put away the bad guys. But revenge, that’s not right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynette-eason/it-s-not-wrong-to-want-justice-to-desire-to-right-a-wrong-or-help-put/) [Lynette Eason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynette-eason/) > [“The personal, as everyone’s so fucking fond of saying, is political. So if some idiot politician, some power player, tries to execute policies that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-personal-as-everyone-s-so-fucking-fond-of-saying-is-political-so/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [I want justice to be so pervasive that it will be taken for granted, just as injustice is taken for granted today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/i-want-justice-to-be-so-pervasive-that-it-will-be-taken-for-granted/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [When having my portrait painted I don't want justice, I want mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-having-my-portrait-painted-i-don-t-want-justice-i-want-mercy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want tea, I want justice!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/i-don-t-want-tea-i-want-justice/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [What humans want is not just happiness. They want justice; they want meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/what-humans-want-is-not-just-happiness-they-want-justice-they-want/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [We want justice, but at the same time, we gotta love and come together and bring unity, and I feel it's gonna happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/we-want-justice-but-at-the-same-time-we-gotta-love-and-come-together/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) ## More by African Spir > [There are some who esteem that it is a naivety to believe that a moral regeneration may be possible ("soit possible", Fr.); now, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/there-are-some-who-esteem-that-it-is-a-naivety-to-believe-that-a/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Up to here, in general, we have mainly stuffed the brain of the young people with a indigestible multitude of varios notions, without thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/up-to-here-in-general-we-have-mainly-stuffed-the-brain-of-the-young/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [When under the influence of certain (or some) reasons (or causes) (alcohol, war, etc - added Spir here) the low instincts are unbridled (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/when-under-the-influence-of-certain-or-some-reasons-or-causes-alcohol/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [It goes without saying that only inner greatness possess a true value ("une valeur véritable,", Fr.) . Any attempt to rise up (or at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/it-goes-without-saying-that-only-inner-greatness-possess-a-true-value/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [In this world everything that is won to the ideal, is an eternal (or imperishable, - "impérissable", Fr.) good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/in-this-world-everything-that-is-won-to-the-ideal-is-an-eternal-or/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Nothing that rest on some contradictory basis shall succeed or last in the long run ("ne saurait réussir ou durer, à la longue", Fr.);…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/nothing-that-rest-on-some-contradictory-basis-shall-succeed-or-last/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Outward, thanks to the knowledge of physical laws, man could subdue (or subjugate...) nature, but inwardly, he remained a slave to it. For, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/outward-thanks-to-the-knowledge-of-physical-laws-man-could-subdue-or/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Whoever has recognized the vainglory of individuality will not attach any store ("n'attachera aucun prix à", Fr.) to fame. The only one thing which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/whoever-has-recognized-the-vainglory-of-individuality-will-not-attach/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [The basic notion of justice, is that the rights of everybody are equals, in principle. In the rights of others, we have to respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/the-basic-notion-of-justice-is-that-the-rights-of-everybody-are/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [We can, following the exemple of Kant, consider the moral development and improvement of men, as the supreme goal of human evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/we-can-following-the-exemple-of-kant-consider-the-moral-development/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [It must be all the same to the citizens ("ressortissants", Fr.) of a country that their governing (those in power) speak such language or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/it-must-be-all-the-same-to-the-citizens-ressortissants-fr-of-a/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Possessions of this world have not been for the exclusive use by such or such category of individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/possessions-of-this-world-have-not-been-for-the-exclusive-use-by-such/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [There are (or is) indeed no contradiction between science and religion, the fields of which are different, and which, far from mutually fighting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/there-are-or-is-indeed-no-contradiction-between-science-and-religion/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Whether we had a (good) moral intuition more developed, we would be as much morally disgusted by the rapacity of those who try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/whether-we-had-a-good-moral-intuition-more-developed-we-would-be-as/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [The divine element manifests itself (or show up) in man as well by his aptitude for science, than by his aptitude for virtue. True…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/the-divine-element-manifests-itself-or-show-up-in-man-as-well-by-his/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) [Explore all 68 African Spir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) ## More Deep down quotes > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [We believe deep down that we've lost something precious and are seeking it outside ourselves, never realizing that we are carrying it within us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/we-believe-deep-down-that-we-ve-lost-something-precious-and-are/) [Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/) > [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid looking at it altogether? Somewhere, deep down, we know we cannot avoid facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/why-exactly-are-we-so-frightened-of-death-that-we-avoid-looking-at-it/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [I think Americans still can't help but respond to the natural authority of this voice. Deep down they long to be told what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/i-think-americans-still-can-t-help-but-respond-to-the-natural/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [I think of myself as being a bit of a wimp deep down - a bourgeois wimp - and I'm fighting that. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-think-of-myself-as-being-a-bit-of-a-wimp-deep-down-a-bourgeois-wimp/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [Become a coach, not a king. A coach brings out the best in others, helping them to reach deep down inside and discover their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/become-a-coach-not-a-king-a-coach-brings-out-the-best-in-others/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“If we can’t wake up to the fact that deep down inside we are good, then we deserve to remain asleep dreaming we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lon-milo-duquette/if-we-can-t-wake-up-to-the-fact-that-deep-down-inside-we-are-good/) [Lon Milo DuQuette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lon-milo-duquette/) > [Famous people are deceptive. Deep down, they're just regular people. Like Larry King. We've been friends for forty years. He's one of the few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/famous-people-are-deceptive-deep-down-they-re-just-regular-people/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Deep down, fundamentally, we are the 'unborn'. We never came into being and we never go out of being. All of these coming and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/deep-down-fundamentally-we-are-the-unborn-we-never-came-into-being/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [I am a person who believes in the good of people and who may have had things influence them to a certain degree, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-north/i-am-a-person-who-believes-in-the-good-of-people-and-who-may-have-had/) [Nolan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-north/) > [I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-suppose-i-ve-always-done-my-share-of-crying-especially-when-there-s/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Canadians are friends and Quebecers are my family. What France knows deep down is that within this great Canadian people, there is a Quebec…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy/canadians-are-friends-and-quebecers-are-my-family-what-france-knows/) [Nicolas Sarkozy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-sarkozy/) > [You are an American, so you're hurt that other American citizens have been hurt, but you end up having to shoulder the shame for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/you-are-an-american-so-you-re-hurt-that-other-american-citizens-have/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I believe that everybody needs to tell their story - to be heard, to be seen, to be acknowledged, to be understood. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/i-believe-that-everybody-needs-to-tell-their-story-to-be-heard-to-be/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) [Browse all 281 Deep down quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-down/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Deep down, everything boils down (\"au fond tout se ramène\", Fr.) to the following simple question; Do we really want justice and the realization in this world of higher principles, or else do we want to serve selfish, short-sighted (à courte vue\", Fr.) interests, which, when all is said and done, are also prejudicial (or detrimental, or harmful) to those very same that pursue them?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "African Spir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond-tout-se-ram-ne-fr-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deep down" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond-tout-se-ram-ne-fr-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/african-spir-10042_deep-down_deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond_1325907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/african-spir-10042_deep-down_deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond_1325907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/african-spir-10042_deep-down_deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond_1325907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Deep down, everything boils down (\"au fond tout se ramène\", Fr.) to the following simple question; Do we…” — African Spir", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "African Spir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Deep down, everything boils down (\"au...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond-tout-se-ram-ne-fr-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/deep-down-everything-boils-down-au-fond-tout-se-ram-ne-fr-to-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```