--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Altruism is innate, but it's not…" description: "\"Altruism is innate, but it's not instinctual. Everybody's wired for it, but a switch has to be flipped.\" — David Rakoff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/david-rakoff-3308_altruism_altruism-is-innate-but-it-s-not-instinct_2094536.png" --- # Altruism is innate, but it's not instinctual. Everybody's… ![“Altruism is innate, but it's not instinctual. Everybody's wired for it, but a switch has to be flipped.” quote by David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/david-rakoff-3308_altruism_altruism-is-innate-but-it-s-not-instinct_2094536.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/david-rakoff-3308_altruism_altruism-is-innate-but-it-s-not-instinct_2094536.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/david-rakoff-3308_altruism_altruism-is-innate-but-it-s-not-instinct_2094536.png) > “Altruism is innate, but it's not instinctual. Everybody's wired for it, but a switch has to be flipped.” [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Altruism is a natural capacity that requires conscious activation, not merely instinct. **In simple terms:** Altruism needs a conscious switch. Key Takeaway Choose to act altruistically. Themes altruism human nature choice Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - teamwork - community service - leadership Key Concepts ethical decision-making social bonding psychology Questions to Reflect On - When have you consciously chosen to help? - What triggers your altruistic switch? 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It's literally because of the way our brains are wired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/the-average-investor-does-significantly-worse-than-a-simple-index-it/) [James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/) > [I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. What I was trying to point out was that you can't understand how we learn unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massively-hot-wired-what-i-was/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## More by David Rakoff > [“The hiking boots the outdoor adventure magazine sent me to buy - large, ungainly potato like things that I have been trying to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/the-hiking-boots-the-outdoor-adventure-magazine-sent-me-to-buy-large/) [david rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Is there some lesson on how to be friends? 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And since there is no answer as to why me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/unfortunately-there-s-no-greater-rhyme-or-reason-as-to-why-it-would/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) [Explore all 134 David Rakoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) ## More Altruism quotes > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. 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They never test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/true-classical-dropouts-in-society-are-those-who-avoid-difficult/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Take a stand that reflects the widest horizons of your soul if you don’t want to be a slave to external powers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/take-a-stand-that-reflects-the-widest-horizons-of-your-soul-if-you/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [One of the great issues in biology is the origin of altruism - of why you would do something for someone else that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/one-of-the-great-issues-in-biology-is-the-origin-of-altruism-of-why/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/how-selfish-soever-man-may-be-supposed-there-are-evidently-some/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Restoration ecology is experimental science, a science of love and altruism. 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