--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you asked twenty good men to-day what…" description: "\"If you asked twenty good men to-day what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you asked almost ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/anonymous-1_abstinence_if-you-asked-twenty-good-men-to-day-what_2237883.jpg" --- # If you asked twenty good men to-day what they thought the… ![“If you asked twenty good men to-day what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you asked almost any of the great Christians of old he would have replied, Love - You see what has happened? A negative term has been substituted for a positive…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/anonymous-1_abstinence_if-you-asked-twenty-good-men-to-day-what_2237883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/anonymous-1_abstinence_if-you-asked-twenty-good-men-to-day-what_2237883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/anonymous-1_abstinence_if-you-asked-twenty-good-men-to-day-what_2237883.jpg) > “If you asked twenty good men to-day what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you asked almost any of the great Christians of old he would have replied, Love - You see what has happened? A negative term has been substituted for a positive, and this is of more than philological importance. The negative ideal of Unselfishness carries with it the suggestion not primarily of securing good things for others, but of going without them ourselves, as if our abstinence and not their happiness was the important point.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts self‑sacrifice with love, arguing that true virtue is love, not merely denying one’s own needs for others. **In simple terms:** Love is the highest virtue, not just self‑denial. Key Takeaway Prioritize love over mere self‑sacrifice. Themes virtue love self‑sacrifice ethics Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - spiritual practice - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts altruism philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - What does love require beyond self‑sacrifice? - How can we balance personal needs with caring for others? A Different Perspective Love may be harder to practice than simple self‑denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstinence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstinence/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Ideal Unselfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-unselfishness-5061327/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-you/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Nineteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteen/) [Reply Unselfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reply-unselfishness-5061329/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Unselfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfishness/) [Unselfishness Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfishness-asked-5061326/) [Unselfishness Carries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfishness-carries-5061328/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Selfishness is the only real atheism; aspiration, unselfishness, the only real religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/selfishness-is-the-only-real-atheism-aspiration-unselfishness-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You don't 'love' people when they are 'nice'. Don't you see that's the same as saying 'what's in it for me'?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-love-people-when-they-are-nice-don-t-you-see-that-s-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be a true hero you must be a true Christian. To sum up then, heroism is largely based on two qualities- truthfulness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-true-hero-you-must-be-a-true-christian-to-sum-up-then-heroism/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[she\] had a great reputation for unselfishness because she was always giving up a lot of things she didn't want. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-had-a-great-reputation-for-unselfishness-because-she-was-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If each side had been frankly contending for its own real wish, they would all have kept within the bounds of reason and courtesy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-each-side-had-been-frankly-contending-for-its-own-real-wish-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think oysters are more beautiful than any religion,' he resumed presently. 'They not only forgive our unkindness to them; they justify it, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-oysters-are-more-beautiful-than-any-religion-he-resumed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A woman means by Unselfishness chiefly taking trouble for others; a man means not giving trouble to others...thus, while the woman thinks of doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-means-by-unselfishness-chiefly-taking-trouble-for-others-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The small share of happiness attainable by man exists only insofar as he is able to cease to think of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-small-share-of-happiness-attainable-by-man-exists-only-insofar-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mourning your abstinence from junk food is like mourning the loss of an enemy who would happily see you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mourning-your-abstinence-from-junk-food-is-like-mourning-the-loss-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-had-no-further-intercourse-with-spirits-but-lived-upon-the-total/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Abstinence makes the arm grow stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder-abstinence-makes-the-arm-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Abstinence is easier than temperance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/abstinence-is-easier-than-temperance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Permanently stuck between I really want to talk to you and I dont want to annoy you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/permanently-stuck-between-i-really-want-to-talk-to-you-and-i-dont/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Abstinence makes the love grow stronger...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/abstinence-makes-the-love-grow-stronger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Real filth is the one inside. The rest simply washes off. There is only one type of dirt that cannot be cleansed with pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-filth-is-the-one-inside-the-rest-simply-washes-off-there-is-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Abstinence quotes > [Sexual activity, and the thoughts and fantasies of sex, use up a great portion of our vital force. When that force is conserved through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/sexual-activity-and-the-thoughts-and-fantasies-of-sex-use-up-a-great/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Used with due abstinence, hope acts as a healthful tonic; intemperately indulged, as an enervating opiate. The visions of future triumph, which at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/used-with-due-abstinence-hope-acts-as-a-healthful-tonic-intemperately/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [“Male masturbation is not a release, it is a squandering. Anyone who begins to no-fap will soon discover this. Like most things, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-freestone/male-masturbation-is-not-a-release-it-is-a-squandering-anyone-who/) [Jack Freestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-freestone/) > [Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/atheism-is-a-religion-like-abstinence-is-a-sex-position/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [When a married person uses pornography, or is unfaithful, it compromises not just his (or her) purity, but also compromises the spouse's purity. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/when-a-married-person-uses-pornography-or-is-unfaithful-it/) [Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/) > [“Look, choosing to wait until marriage makes me feel empowered. But if the same choice cripples you, then it wasn't the right one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-allen/look-choosing-to-wait-until-marriage-makes-me-feel-empowered-but-if/) [Rachael Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-allen/) > [Taking the pledge will not make bad liquor good, but it will improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/taking-the-pledge-will-not-make-bad-liquor-good-but-it-will-improve-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with-a-merciless-padlock-than-to/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [There is a great deal of political pressure to only talk about abstinence, and to deny support for condoms and education on using them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/there-is-a-great-deal-of-political-pressure-to-only-talk-about/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Abstinence-only education - the best STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) and pregnancy delivery system that politicians have ever devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/abstinence-only-education-the-best-std-sexually-transmitted-disease/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [While one may lose much because of avarice, nothing was ever accomplished by abstinence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isuna-hasekura/while-one-may-lose-much-because-of-avarice-nothing-was-ever/) [Isuna Hasekura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isuna-hasekura/) > [“The secular, for all its goodness, does not defend itself very well against mindless and perpetual consumption. It cries out to be offered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/the-secular-for-all-its-goodness-does-not-defend-itself-very-well/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [I went to an all-girls Catholic school. And all the nuns just breathed down our necks "abstinence." And that's not the right thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/i-went-to-an-all-girls-catholic-school-and-all-the-nuns-just-breathed/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [How do we want our air? Pure. How do we want our water? Pure. How do we want sex on our wedding night? Pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-kelly/how-do-we-want-our-air-pure-how-do-we-want-our-water-pure-how-do-we/) [Molly Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-kelly/) > [“There’s gratification in abstaining from the easy choice. Instant gratification can bring more suffering than pleasure. If I do the hard thing, the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-wang/there-s-gratification-in-abstaining-from-the-easy-choice-instant/) [Cecily Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-wang/) [Browse all 233 Abstinence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstinence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you asked twenty good men to-day what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you asked almost any of the great Christians of old he would have replied, Love - You see what has happened? A negative term has been substituted for a positive, and this is of more than philological importance. 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