--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our selfishness consumes us until the…" description: "\"Our selfishness consumes us until the whole world is not enough.\" — As I Lay Dying" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/as-i-lay-dying-20022_selfishness_our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-wh_2069911.jpg" --- # Our selfishness consumes us until the whole world is not… ![“Our selfishness consumes us until the whole world is not enough.” quote by As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/as-i-lay-dying-20022_selfishness_our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-wh_2069911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/as-i-lay-dying-20022_selfishness_our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-wh_2069911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/as-i-lay-dying-20022_selfishness_our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-wh_2069911.jpg) > “Our selfishness consumes us until the whole world is not enough.” [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Selfish desire blinds us, making the world feel insufficient and hollow. **In simple terms:** Selfishness makes the world feel empty. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy over self‑interest. Themes selfishness emptiness worldview Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - environmental stewardship - community building Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your self‑interest affect others? - Can you find meaning beyond personal gain? A Different Perspective Selfishness can be a survival instinct, not just a flaw. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumes/) [Consumes World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumes-world-3991451/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Selfishness Consumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness-consumes-3991450/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The essence of the problem is about consumption, recognizing that a society that consumes one-third of the world's resources is unsustainable. This level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/the-essence-of-the-problem-is-about-consumption-recognizing-that-a/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/man-is-the-only-creature-that-consumes-without-producing-he-does-not/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“I devour her. And she consumes me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-snow/i-devour-her-and-she-consumes-me/) [Emily Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-snow/) > [Fire consumes, but cold preserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fire-consumes-but-cold-preserves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What we consume, consumes us. What you focus on shapes you. What you fix your gaze on will ultimately begin to shape your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hise/what-we-consume-consumes-us-what-you-focus-on-shapes-you-what-you-fix/) [Pete Hise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hise/) > [“The way fire moves, it consumes you. It's so beautiful you want to touch it but you know you can't. I think that's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/the-way-fire-moves-it-consumes-you-it-s-so-beautiful-you-want-to/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [“Whatever is eating her brain consumes only the fresher memories, the unripe moments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-dean/whatever-is-eating-her-brain-consumes-only-the-fresher-memories-the/) [Debra Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-dean/) > [I'm really not a person who consumes a lot. I don't have a sports car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-m-really-not-a-person-who-consumes-a-lot-i-don-t-have-a-sports-car/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [“Fire consumes.' Lord Beric stood behind them, and there was something in his voice that silenced Thoros at once. 'It consumes, and when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/fire-consumes-lord-beric-stood-behind-them-and-there-was-something-in/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“She consumes me like a bright fire burning deep within my ribs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-diedrich/she-consumes-me-like-a-bright-fire-burning-deep-within-my-ribs/) [Kirk Diedrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-diedrich/) > [“She consumes me with her eyes, her fiery touch, and the ways in which she loves me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-snyder/she-consumes-me-with-her-eyes-her-fiery-touch-and-the-ways-in-which/) [T.H. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-snyder/) > [That's what humanity is: a series of successes and failures, a testing of one's own nature and aptitude. Neither the body nor the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/that-s-what-humanity-is-a-series-of-successes-and-failures-a-testing/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Music, music, music. It doesn't get much better than that! It pretty much consumes my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/music-music-music-it-doesn-t-get-much-better-than-that-it-pretty-much/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-consumes-us-only-in-the-measure-of-our-self-surrender/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My love consumes me. Only my voice is left, a voice which has fallen in love with you whispers to you everywhere that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/my-love-consumes-me-only-my-voice-is-left-a-voice-which-has-fallen-in/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) ## More by As I Lay Dying > [We are not the same as I hope to show. There is a better way if we just let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/we-are-not-the-same-as-i-hope-to-show-there-is-a-better-way-if-we/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [I will no longer turn my head I will never forget you. You are the one we left behind. You are the forsaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/i-will-no-longer-turn-my-head-i-will-never-forget-you-you-are-the-one/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [In the tension between devouring want or simple need it's clear the only lines between the ones we preserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/in-the-tension-between-devouring-want-or-simple-need-it-s-clear-the/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [Scattering pieces of my my restless mind. Forgetting all that we have left behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/scattering-pieces-of-my-my-restless-mind-forgetting-all-that-we-have/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [I am a walking contradiction that's found consistency consuming everything, all without producing sustenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/i-am-a-walking-contradiction-that-s-found-consistency-consuming/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [“We've focused so long on ideals of freedom that it is this very belief that oppresses us. We all want to be free, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/we-ve-focused-so-long-on-ideals-of-freedom-that-it-is-this-very/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [You brought an end to this dead hour and meaning to a calloused life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/you-brought-an-end-to-this-dead-hour-and-meaning-to-a-calloused-life/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [Never starving yet never quite satisfied. Carnal but without useful flesh or mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/never-starving-yet-never-quite-satisfied-carnal-but-without-useful/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [I was scared to leave these walls in ruin like the fate of those who trust in themselvesl We are alone and afraidl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/i-was-scared-to-leave-these-walls-in-ruin-like-the-fate-of-those-who/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [I know you are the one we left behind. Yet somehow we are the ones who are alone you are the one we left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/i-know-you-are-the-one-we-left-behind-yet-somehow-we-are-the-ones-who/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [We speak of fighting to resist this world But what about the battle within us? If we have chosen to live against the grain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/we-speak-of-fighting-to-resist-this-world-but-what-about-the-battle/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [We've built our confidence. On broken dreams now left for dead. Yet we've been condemned. To chase these dreams that never end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/we-ve-built-our-confidence-on-broken-dreams-now-left-for-dead-yet-we/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [With its gears that turn to make me feel and assembled thoughts that fade away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/with-its-gears-that-turn-to-make-me-feel-and-assembled-thoughts-that/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [Say what you really mean when your ambition calls you. For what use is there in praying If you will only hear what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/say-what-you-really-mean-when-your-ambition-calls-you-for-what-use-is/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) > [For so long I have felt alone. Content to live with unres.t Longing faded into countless nights that buried my weary heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/for-so-long-i-have-felt-alone-content-to-live-with-unres-t-longing/) [As I Lay Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) [Explore all 31 As I Lay Dying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/) ## More Consumes quotes > [“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/man-is-the-only-creature-that-consumes-without-producing-he-does-not/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-consumes-us-only-in-the-measure-of-our-self-surrender/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Music, music, music. It doesn't get much better than that! It pretty much consumes my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/music-music-music-it-doesn-t-get-much-better-than-that-it-pretty-much/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [That's what humanity is: a series of successes and failures, a testing of one's own nature and aptitude. Neither the body nor the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/that-s-what-humanity-is-a-series-of-successes-and-failures-a-testing/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“She consumes me with her eyes, her fiery touch, and the ways in which she loves me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-snyder/she-consumes-me-with-her-eyes-her-fiery-touch-and-the-ways-in-which/) [T.H. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-snyder/) > [“She consumes me like a bright fire burning deep within my ribs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-diedrich/she-consumes-me-like-a-bright-fire-burning-deep-within-my-ribs/) [Kirk Diedrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-diedrich/) > [“Fire consumes.' Lord Beric stood behind them, and there was something in his voice that silenced Thoros at once. 'It consumes, and when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/fire-consumes-lord-beric-stood-behind-them-and-there-was-something-in/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I'm really not a person who consumes a lot. I don't have a sports car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-m-really-not-a-person-who-consumes-a-lot-i-don-t-have-a-sports-car/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [“Whatever is eating her brain consumes only the fresher memories, the unripe moments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-dean/whatever-is-eating-her-brain-consumes-only-the-fresher-memories-the/) [Debra Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-dean/) > [“The way fire moves, it consumes you. It's so beautiful you want to touch it but you know you can't. I think that's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/the-way-fire-moves-it-consumes-you-it-s-so-beautiful-you-want-to/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [“What we consume, consumes us. What you focus on shapes you. What you fix your gaze on will ultimately begin to shape your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hise/what-we-consume-consumes-us-what-you-focus-on-shapes-you-what-you-fix/) [Pete Hise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hise/) > [Fire consumes, but cold preserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fire-consumes-but-cold-preserves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I devour her. And she consumes me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-snow/i-devour-her-and-she-consumes-me/) [Emily Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-snow/) > [“My love consumes me. Only my voice is left, a voice which has fallen in love with you whispers to you everywhere that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/my-love-consumes-me-only-my-voice-is-left-a-voice-which-has-fallen-in/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [Happiness consumes itself like a flame. It cannot burn for ever, it must go out, and the presentiment of its end destroys it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/happiness-consumes-itself-like-a-flame-it-cannot-burn-for-ever-it/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) [Browse all 66 Consumes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our selfishness consumes us until the whole world is not enough.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "As I Lay Dying" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-whole-world-is-not-enough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consumes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-whole-world-is-not-enough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/as-i-lay-dying-20022_selfishness_our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-wh_2069911.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/as-i-lay-dying-20022_selfishness_our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-wh_2069911.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/as-i-lay-dying-20022_selfishness_our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-wh_2069911.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our selfishness consumes us until the whole world is not enough.” — As I Lay Dying", "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": "As I Lay Dying", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-i-lay-dying/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our selfishness consumes us until the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-whole-world-is-not-enough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/our-selfishness-consumes-us-until-the-whole-world-is-not-enough/#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 } } ] } ```