--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy…" description: "\"“Selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, greed, self-indulgence, laziness and pride were all anti-life. Love, heroism, self-sacrifice, sympathy, mercy, in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/ernest-gordon-236501_essence-of-life_selfishness-hatred-envy-jealousy-greed-s_746753.jpg" --- # Selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, greed… ![“Selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, greed, self-indulgence, laziness and pride were all anti-life. Love, heroism, self-sacrifice, sympathy, mercy, integrity and creative faith, on the other hand, were the essence of life, turning mere existence into living in its truest sense. These were the…” quote by Ernest Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/ernest-gordon-236501_essence-of-life_selfishness-hatred-envy-jealousy-greed-s_746753.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/ernest-gordon-236501_essence-of-life_selfishness-hatred-envy-jealousy-greed-s_746753.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/ernest-gordon-236501_essence-of-life_selfishness-hatred-envy-jealousy-greed-s_746753.jpg) > ““Selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, greed, self-indulgence, laziness and pride were all anti-life. Love, heroism, self-sacrifice, sympathy, mercy, integrity and creative faith, on the other hand, were the essence of life, turning mere existence into living in its truest sense. These were the gifts of God to men. With”” Ernest Gordon ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑destructive traits undermine life, while virtues like love and sacrifice give existence true meaning. **In simple terms:** Bad habits kill, good virtues give life meaning. Key Takeaway Cultivate virtues, reject vices. Themes ethics spirituality human nature Mood hopeful inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - community building - leadership training Key Concepts self‑sacrifice altruism integrity creative faith Questions to Reflect On - Which virtue can you strengthen today? - How do you confront a specific vice? A Different Perspective Balancing negatives and positives is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essence of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-of-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Self sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-sacrifice/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [“Spiritual pride is a far more deadly sin than concubinage; selfishness is a far more deadly sin than polygamy; hatred is a far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-allen/spiritual-pride-is-a-far-more-deadly-sin-than-concubinage-selfishness/) [Roland Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-allen/) > [“CHORONZON "I am anti-life, the beast of judgement. I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of universes, Gods, worlds... of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/choronzon-i-am-anti-life-the-beast-of-judgement-i-am-the-dark-at-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Aw, where we come from the Anti-Life Equation is one of many others--almost as awesome!! But they merely exist!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/aw-where-we-come-from-the-anti-life-equation-is-one-of-many-others/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [When I got lucky enough to be successful as an actor, and I got involved in the anti-war stuff and gay rights movement, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/when-i-got-lucky-enough-to-be-successful-as-an-actor-and-i-got/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [Its absurd and anti-life to be part of a system that compels you to sit in confinement with people of exactly the same age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/its-absurd-and-anti-life-to-be-part-of-a-system-that-compels-you-to/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [The cycle of life is death, decomposition and regeneration, and a person who wants to stop killing animals is actually anti-life because it's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/the-cycle-of-life-is-death-decomposition-and-regeneration-and-a/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [I am anti-life, the Beast of Judgment. I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of universes, gods, worlds…of everything. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-am-anti-life-the-beast-of-judgment-i-am-the-dark-at-the-end-of/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The evil eye is the fascinum, it is that which has the effect of arresting movement and, literally, of killing life. At the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lacan/the-evil-eye-is-the-fascinum-it-is-that-which-has-the-effect-of/) [Jacques Lacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lacan/) > [I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/i-will-eliminate-hatred-envy-jealousy-selfishness-and-cynicism-by/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [There are some upon this earth of yours,' returned the Spirit, 'who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-are-some-upon-this-earth-of-yours-returned-the-spirit-who-lay/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Where I'm at right now, I aint got no tolerance for something stupid, or hatred, or envy. If you bringin any one of those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/where-i-m-at-right-now-i-aint-got-no-tolerance-for-something-stupid/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [He in whose mind is no anger, hatred, or envy, who never loses his balance, dies, or is born, who is he but God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/he-in-whose-mind-is-no-anger-hatred-or-envy-who-never-loses-his/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“If we sow the seeds of hatred and envy and discouragement in others, we, in turn, develop these qualities in ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/if-we-sow-the-seeds-of-hatred-and-envy-and-discouragement-in-others/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“We, who teach the Word purely with great zeal and diligence, and seek nothing else than the welfare of Germany, are bearing the bitterest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/we-who-teach-the-word-purely-with-great-zeal-and-diligence-and-seek/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“There are some upon this earth of yours who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-are-some-upon-this-earth-of-yours-who-lay-claim-to-know-us-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More Essence of life quotes > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [It seems not to have been written. It is the quintessence of life. It is the basic truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/it-seems-not-to-have-been-written-it-is-the-quintessence-of-life-it/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) > [History and Biology, not created the premise that friendships are necessary for a satisfying and healthy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-anupam/history-and-biology-not-created-the-premise-that-friendships-are/) [Kumar Anupam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-anupam/) > [Timing is the essence of life, and definitely of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/timing-is-the-essence-of-life-and-definitely-of-comedy/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. 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The challenge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-adventure-of-life-is-to-learn-the-purpose-of-life-is-to-grow-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“True glory and the essence of life lies in the pro-creation and re-actment of heroic meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vd/true-glory-and-the-essence-of-life-lies-in-the-pro-creation-and-re/) VD > [Clean water, the essence of life and a birthright for everyone, must become available to all people now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-cousteau/clean-water-the-essence-of-life-and-a-birthright-for-everyone-must/) [Jean-Michel Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-cousteau/) > [Goal setting is the essence of life. Tenaciously pursue your goals not for external praise but for inner reward. It makes you a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/goal-setting-is-the-essence-of-life-tenaciously-pursue-your-goals-not/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“The essence of life is to appreciate and value all occurrence be it good or bad, it’s a lifetime episodes, the multitude of colors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nisyah/the-essence-of-life-is-to-appreciate-and-value-all-occurrence-be-it/) Nisyah > [Submission does not mean being weak or passive. It leads to neither fatalism nor capitulation. Just the opposite. True power resides in submission. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/submission-does-not-mean-being-weak-or-passive-it-leads-to-neither/) [Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/) > [Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. 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The essence of life is struggle and competition, and to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-perez-de-cuellar/human-nature-being-what-it-is-peace-must-inevitably-be-a-relative/) [Javier Perez de Cuellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-perez-de-cuellar/) > [I think there are times when human beings open our psychic field: when they're in love, when they're with another person that they resonate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-think-there-are-times-when-human-beings-open-our-psychic-field-when/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) [Browse all 179 Essence of life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-of-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, greed, self-indulgence, laziness and pride were all anti-life. 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