--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only where we ourselves are responsible…" description: "\"Only where we ourselves are responsible for our own interests and are free to sacrifice them has our decision moral value. We are neither entitled to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/anonymous-1_ethics_only-where-we-ourselves-are-responsible_1531347.jpg" --- # Only where we ourselves are responsible for our own… ![“Only where we ourselves are responsible for our own interests and are free to sacrifice them has our decision moral value. We are neither entitled to be unselfish at someone else's expense nor is there any merit in being unselfish if we have no choice. The members of a society who in all respects…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/anonymous-1_ethics_only-where-we-ourselves-are-responsible_1531347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/anonymous-1_ethics_only-where-we-ourselves-are-responsible_1531347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/anonymous-1_ethics_only-where-we-ourselves-are-responsible_1531347.jpg) > “Only where we ourselves are responsible for our own interests and are free to sacrifice them has our decision moral value. We are neither entitled to be unselfish at someone else's expense nor is there any merit in being unselfish if we have no choice. The members of a society who in all respects are made to do the good thing have no title to praise.” [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. Moral value comes from freely choosing to sacrifice personal interests, not from forced or entitled selflessness. **In simple terms:** True moral worth is a in free sacrifice, not forced duty. Key Takeaway Value voluntary sacrifice over compelled duty. Themes ethics autonomy self-sacrifice Mood thoughtful critical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - volunteer work - personal decisions - social obligations Key Concepts moral philosophy free will Questions to Reflect On - Is forced good truly moral? - What motivates genuine sacrifice? A Different Perspective Forced altruism may lack genuine virtue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-moral-5682312/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Free Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-sacrifice-5682313/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-value-492259/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Unselfish Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfish-choice-5682314/) ## Related quotes > [No moral value is greater than humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-moral-value-is-greater-than-humanity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's really not rocket science. If animals are not mere things; if they have moral value, we cannot justify eating, wearing, or using them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/it-s-really-not-rocket-science-if-animals-are-not-mere-things-if-they/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [But, in history, practical usefulness never determines the moral value of an achievement. Only the person who increases the knowledge humanity has about itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/but-in-history-practical-usefulness-never-determines-the-moral-value/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [The morality of the 21st century will depend on how we respond to this simple but profound question: Does every human life have equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-j-smith/the-morality-of-the-21st-century-will-depend-on-how-we-respond-to/) [Wesley J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-j-smith/) > [“Animals are property. There are laws that supposedly protect animal interests in being treated “humanely,” but that term is interpreted in large part to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animals-are-property-there-are-laws-that-supposedly-protect-animal/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Inculcate moral value. Make sincerity and integrity your way of life. Integrity is the ability to accept impartial action and act in accordance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/inculcate-moral-value-make-sincerity-and-integrity-your-way-of-life/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Why is it immoral for you to desire, but moral for others to do so? Why is it immoral to produce a value and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/why-is-it-immoral-for-you-to-desire-but-moral-for-others-to-do-so-why/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Altruism declares that any action taken for the benefit of others is good, and any action taken for one's own benefit is evil. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/altruism-declares-that-any-action-taken-for-the-benefit-of-others-is/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Science enhances the moral value of life, because it furthers a love of truth and reverence-love of truth displaying itself in the constant endeavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/science-enhances-the-moral-value-of-life-because-it-furthers-a-love/) [Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/) > [To be a person of high moral value inculcate virtue of transparency, integrity & honesty.Make yourself stand like rock,if demanding situation tries to budge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/to-be-a-person-of-high-moral-value-inculcate-virtue-of-transparency/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Rather than dividing the world between good and evil, the Left divided the world in terms of economics. Economic classes, not moral values, explained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/rather-than-dividing-the-world-between-good-and-evil-the-left-divided/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [A scientist shouldn't be asked to judge the economic and moral value of his work. All we should ask the scientist to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmony-korine/a-scientist-shouldn-t-be-asked-to-judge-the-economic-and-moral-value/) [Harmony Korine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmony-korine/) > [When you idolize someone,emulate his example in your behaviour,action & character.This will reflect your commitment for high moral value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/when-you-idolize-someone-emulate-his-example-in-your-behaviour-action/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Whenever we depart from voluntary cooperation and try to do good by using force, the bad moral value of force triumphs over good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/whenever-we-depart-from-voluntary-cooperation-and-try-to-do-good-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## 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 Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) [Valdemar W Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valdemar-w-setzer/) > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only where we ourselves are responsible for our own interests and are free to sacrifice them has our decision moral value. We are neither entitled to be unselfish at someone else's expense nor is there any merit in being unselfish if we have no choice. 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