--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By self-interest, Man has become…" description: "\"By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in instinct he has remained to a great extent solitary; hence the need of religion and morality to rei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/bertrand-russell-69_character_by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregario_1389153.jpg" --- # By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in… ![“By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in instinct he has remained to a great extent solitary; hence the need of religion and morality to reinforce self-interest.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/bertrand-russell-69_character_by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregario_1389153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/bertrand-russell-69_character_by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregario_1389153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/bertrand-russell-69_character_by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregario_1389153.jpg) > “By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in instinct he has remained to a great extent solitary; hence the need of religion and morality to reinforce self-interest.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans are naturally solitary, yet they form societies; religion and morality help align self‑interest with communal good. **In simple terms:** We are solitary but social; institutions guide selfishness. Key Takeaway Recognize innate solitude, foster cooperative values. Themes social morality human nature Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - community building - policy making - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts social contract theory evolutionary psychology Questions to Reflect On - What role does religion play today in moral cohesion? - Can secular ethics replace religious frameworks? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑interest may ignore altruistic instincts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Gregarious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gregarious/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-interest/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) ## Related quotes > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [Religion without morality is a superstition and a curse, and morality without religion is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hopkins/religion-without-morality-is-a-superstition-and-a-curse-and-morality/) [Mark Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hopkins/) > [“Religion has clearly performed great services for human civilization. It has contributed much towards the taming of the asocial instincts. But not enough. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/religion-has-clearly-performed-great-services-for-human-civilization/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [... the average Catholic perceives no connection between religion and morality, unless it is a question of someone else's morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/the-average-catholic-perceives-no-connection-between-religion-and/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [The fatal trait of the times is the divorce between religion and morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-fatal-trait-of-the-times-is-the-divorce-between-religion-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary for good government... Therefore schools and the means of educating the people should always be encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/religion-morality-and-knowledge-are-necessary-for-good-government/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“If they’re beautiful I don’t much mind if they’re not true. It’s asking a great deal that things should appeal to your reason as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/if-they-re-beautiful-i-don-t-much-mind-if-they-re-not-true-it-s/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) > [It is rather more noble to help people purely out of concern for their suffering than it is to help them because you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/it-is-rather-more-noble-to-help-people-purely-out-of-concern-for/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [religion and morality are a much better whip to keep people in submission than even the club and the gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/religion-and-morality-are-a-much-better-whip-to-keep-people-in/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. So now people assume that religion and morality have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/one-of-the-great-tragedies-of-mankind-is-that-morality-has-been/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-dispositions-and-habits-which-lead-to-political-prosperity-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is alleged by men of loose principles , or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/it-is-alleged-by-men-of-loose-principles-or-defective-views-of-the/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [“What I don’t understand is how some people say they can recognize the necessity to provide people with equal treatment under the law but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-perry/what-i-don-t-understand-is-how-some-people-say-they-can-recognize-the/) [Natalie Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-perry/) > [Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible to rightly govern the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-dispositions-and-habits-which-lead-to-political-prosperity/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Everywhere the tendency has been to separate religion from morality, to set them in opposition even. But a religion without morality is a superstition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hopkins/everywhere-the-tendency-has-been-to-separate-religion-from-morality/) [Mark Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hopkins/) ## More by Bertrand Russell > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/such-in-outline-but-even-more-purposeless-more-void-of-meaning-is-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-maintained-that-women-have-fewer-teeth-than-men-although-he/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-an-opinion-contrary-to-your-own-makes-you-angry-that-is-a-sign/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-newspapers-at-one-time-said-that-i-was-dead-but-after-carefully/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/persecution-is-used-in-theology-not-in-arithmetic-because-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-no-greater-reason-for-children-to-honour-parents-than-for/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in instinct he has remained to a great extent solitary; hence the need of religion and morality to reinforce self-interest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertrand Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregarious-but-in-instinct-he-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregarious-but-in-instinct-he-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/bertrand-russell-69_character_by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregario_1389153.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/bertrand-russell-69_character_by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregario_1389153.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/bertrand-russell-69_character_by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregario_1389153.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in instinct he has remained to a great extent solitary…” — Bertrand Russell", "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": "Bertrand Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By self-interest, Man has become gregarious,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregarious-but-in-instinct-he-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/by-self-interest-man-has-become-gregarious-but-in-instinct-he-has/#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 } } ] } ```