Civilized Quote by Aung San Suu Kyi
“The act of willingly subtracting from one's own limited store of the good and the agreeable for the sake of adding to that of others reflects the understanding that individual happiness needs a base broader than the mere satisfaction of selfish passions. From there, it is not such a large step to the realization that respecting the susceptibilities and rights of others is as important as defending one's own susceptibilities and rights if civilized society is to be safeguarded.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Address on Human Rights, 2015
True happiness comes from sharing good with others and respecting others’ rights as much as one’s own.
In simple terms: Happiness requires sharing and mutual respect.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate generosity and uphold others’ rights.
Themes
ethics
altruism
human rights
community
Mood
hopeful
determined
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- volunteering
- advocacy
- conflict resolution
- community building
Key Concepts
social contract
moral philosophy
collective well‑being
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure your own needs are met while helping others?
- What boundaries protect both self and community?
A Different Perspective
Balancing self‑care with altruism can be challenging.
![“The order of nature [is] that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b81/thomas-jefferson-43_character_the-order-of-nature-is-that-individual-h_1022487.jpg)
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
