--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A natural man lives for himself; a lover…" description: "\"“A natural man lives for himself; a lover lives for others.”\" — David Lindsay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/david-lindsay-32518_lover_a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover_2832370.jpg" --- # A natural man lives for himself; a lover lives for others. ![“A natural man lives for himself; a lover lives for others.” quote by David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/david-lindsay-32518_lover_a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover_2832370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/david-lindsay-32518_lover_a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover_2832370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/david-lindsay-32518_lover_a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover_2832370.jpg) > ““A natural man lives for himself; a lover lives for others.”” [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A natural man seeks self‑fulfillment, while a lover seeks fulfillment through others, contrasting individualism and altruism. **In simple terms:** Self‑focused vs. other‑focused living. Key Takeaway Balance personal goals with caring for others. Themes individualism altruism philosophy Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal development - social work - spirituality Key Concepts ethics human nature relationships Questions to Reflect On - What is the right balance between self and others? - How does love shape identity? A Different Perspective May idealize self‑sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lover/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [One exits with one's husband -- one lives with one's lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-exits-with-one-s-husband-one-lives-with-one-s-lover/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The natural man must know in order to believe; The spiritual man must believe in order to know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-natural-man-must-know-in-order-to-believe-the-spiritual-man-must/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [It is natural to man to regard himself as the final cause of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-natural-to-man-to-regard-himself-as-the-final-cause-of-creation/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Moreover, no one is judged from the natural man, thus not so long as he lives in the natural world, for man is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/moreover-no-one-is-judged-from-the-natural-man-thus-not-so-long-as-he/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [“The wicked natural man loves contest; the weak natural man loves excitement. An”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrs-alfred-gatty/the-wicked-natural-man-loves-contest-the-weak-natural-man-loves/) Mrs. Alfred Gatty > [“The very words repentance, regeneration, the New Man, suggest something very different. Some tendencies in each natural man may have to be simply rejected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-very-words-repentance-regeneration-the-new-man-suggest-something/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > ["Natural" man is always there, under the changeable historical man. We call him and he comes-a little sleepy, benumbed, without his lost form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/natural-man-is-always-there-under-the-changeable-historical-man-we/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [If we're a natural man, we're attracted to a woman. You are our natural partner in the act of procreation. 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God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedd-tripp/the-law-of-god-is-not-easy-for-natural-man-its-standard-is-high-and/) [Tedd Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedd-tripp/) ## More by David Lindsay > [“It isn't a bad thing to hear voices... but you mustn't for a minute imagine that all is wise that comes to you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/it-isn-t-a-bad-thing-to-hear-voices-but-you-mustn-t-for-a-minute/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“You may be sure that a question which requires music for an answer can't be put into words. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/you-may-be-sure-that-a-question-which-requires-music-for-an-answer/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“Attach yourself to truth, not to me. For I may die before you, but the truth will accompany you to your death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/attach-yourself-to-truth-not-to-me-for-i-may-die-before-you-but-the/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“Where do you come from?" "From the planet of a distant sun, called Earth." "What for?" "I was tired of vulgarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/where-do-you-come-from-from-the-planet-of-a-distant-sun-called-earth/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [Imagination without study is the self-indulgence of the intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/imagination-without-study-is-the-self-indulgence-of-the-intellect/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“Promise this — never to raise your hand against a living creature, either to strike, pluck, or eat, without first recollecting its mother, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/promise-this-never-to-raise-your-hand-against-a-living-creature/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“He who studies himself at all is ignoble. Only by despising soul as well as body can a man enter true life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/he-who-studies-himself-at-all-is-ignoble-only-by-despising-soul-as/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“Can the memory of love be worth more than its presence and reality?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/can-the-memory-of-love-be-worth-more-than-its-presence-and-reality/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“Who knows what any man can do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/who-knows-what-any-man-can-do/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“I dream with open eyes,' he answered, looking around at the door, 'and others see my dreams. That is all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/i-dream-with-open-eyes-he-answered-looking-around-at-the-door-and/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“He who is always anxious to teach will learn nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/he-who-is-always-anxious-to-teach-will-learn-nothing/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“His forehead, however, was disfigured by what looked like a haphazard assortment of eyes, eight in number, of different sizes and shapes. They went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/his-forehead-however-was-disfigured-by-what-looked-like-a-haphazard/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“Leave the past alone, it cannot be reshaped. The future alone is ours. It starts fresh and clean from this very minute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/leave-the-past-alone-it-cannot-be-reshaped-the-future-alone-is-ours/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) > [“He was travel stained, unkempt, and very tired, but his soul was at peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/he-was-travel-stained-unkempt-and-very-tired-but-his-soul-was-at-peace/) [David Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) [Explore all 15 David Lindsay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/) ## More Lover quotes > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love was love, and always demanded more than a lover was capable of giving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-black/love-was-love-and-always-demanded-more-than-a-lover-was-capable-of/) [Benjamin Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-black/) > [“I love you because… wait… I take a drag from my pipe… I really don’t know. 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In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [Lover please do not fall to your knees it's not like I believe in everlasting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/lover-please-do-not-fall-to-your-knees-it-s-not-like-i-believe-in/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [Take the L out of Lover 'cause we're Over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-the-l-out-of-lover-cause-we-re-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fuck,” Quinn hissed as his body opened up for me. He was lying over Beck’s back, his tanned skin dark against our young lover’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/fuck-quinn-hissed-as-his-body-opened-up-for-me-he-was-lying-over-beck/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [Anyone with a long-term partner, anyone with a long-term lover, if that lover dies, you could easily see yourself in a situation where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/anyone-with-a-long-term-partner-anyone-with-a-long-term-lover-if-that/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [Love makes you a singer love makes you a poet love makes you a fighter love makes you a forgiver love makes you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/love-makes-you-a-singer-love-makes-you-a-poet-love-makes-you-a/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no fury like a woman searching for a new lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/there-is-no-fury-like-a-woman-searching-for-a-new-lover/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as a schoolboy leaving his books, but when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-lover-goes-toward-his-beloved-as-enthusiastically-as-a-schoolboy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 1,641 Lover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lover/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A natural man lives for himself; a lover lives for others.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Lindsay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover-lives-for-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lover" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover-lives-for-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/david-lindsay-32518_lover_a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover_2832370.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/david-lindsay-32518_lover_a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover_2832370.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/david-lindsay-32518_lover_a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover_2832370.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A natural man lives for himself; a lover lives for others.” — David Lindsay", "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": "David Lindsay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A natural man lives for himself;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover-lives-for-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay/a-natural-man-lives-for-himself-a-lover-lives-for-others/#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 } } ] } ```