--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man's interest in the world is only the…" description: "\"A man's interest in the world is only the overflow from his interest in himself. When you are a child your vessel is not yet full;so you care for nothi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/george-bernard-shaw-68_adventurer_a-man-s-interest-in-the-world-is-only-th_91179.jpg" --- # A man's interest in the world is only the overflow from… ![“A man's interest in the world is only the overflow from his interest in himself. When you are a child your vessel is not yet full;so you care for nothing but your own affairs. When you grow up, your vessel overflows; and you are a politician, a philosopher, or an explorer and adventurer. In old…” quote by George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/george-bernard-shaw-68_adventurer_a-man-s-interest-in-the-world-is-only-th_91179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/george-bernard-shaw-68_adventurer_a-man-s-interest-in-the-world-is-only-th_91179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/george-bernard-shaw-68_adventurer_a-man-s-interest-in-the-world-is-only-th_91179.jpg) > “A man's interest in the world is only the overflow from his interest in himself. When you are a child your vessel is not yet full;so you care for nothing but your own affairs. When you grow up, your vessel overflows; and you are a politician, a philosopher, or an explorer and adventurer. In old age the vessel dries up: there is no overflow: you are a child again.” [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑interest dominates early life; as one matures, concern expands outward, then returns to introspection in old age. **In simple terms:** Self‑interest evolves with age. Key Takeaway Personal focus shifts across life stages. Themes human nature development self‑interest Mood thoughtful nostalgic Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - career planning - mentorship - retirement reflection Key Concepts psychological growth life‑cycle theory Practical Applications - Encourage intergenerational dialogue - Design programs for lifelong learning Questions to Reflect On - What experiences trigger the shift from self‑interest to broader concern? - How can societies support meaningful engagement in later life? A Different Perspective Not everyone follows this linear pattern; some remain self‑focused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurer/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Explorers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explorers/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [A man's interest in the world is only an overflow from his interest in himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-man-s-interest-in-the-world-is-only-an-overflow-from-his-interest/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Everything that is superfluous overflows from the full bosom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/everything-that-is-superfluous-overflows-from-the-full-bosom/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [History overflows time. Love overflows the allowance of the world. All the vessels overflow, and no end or limit stays put. Every shakable thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/history-overflows-time-love-overflows-the-allowance-of-the-world-all/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [When a companion's heart of itself overflows, the best one can do is to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/when-a-companion-s-heart-of-itself-overflows-the-best-one-can-do-is/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Be like the fountain that overflows, not like the cistern that merely contains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/be-like-the-fountain-that-overflows-not-like-the-cistern-that-merely/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [One of God's main purposes for your life is to fill you with so much of His love that it overflows onto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/one-of-god-s-main-purposes-for-your-life-is-to-fill-you-with-so-much/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [Hindi naman ako mataba eh. In fact I'm so sexy that it overflows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam/hindi-naman-ako-mataba-eh-in-fact-i-m-so-sexy-that-it-overflows/) [Miriam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam/) > [I'm still blown away by how much I love you. It overflows, spilling from my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/i-m-still-blown-away-by-how-much-i-love-you-it-overflows-spilling/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) > [Im not fat I'm just so sexy that it overflows>>>](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-fat-i-m-just-so-sexy-that-it-overflows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Imagine two years worth of stuff that you've been holding on to and everything just keeps piling up to the point where the pot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-covington/imagine-two-years-worth-of-stuff-that-you-ve-been-holding-on-to-and/) [Robert Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-covington/) > [I'm not fat. I'm just so sexy that it overflows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-h/i-m-not-fat-i-m-just-so-sexy-that-it-overflows/) [Miranda H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-h/) > [“Life overflows with imperfections, but some matter more than others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/life-overflows-with-imperfections-but-some-matter-more-than-others/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“An hour passed and another and then, like a glass of water overfilled - the meniscus inverting, going convex, gravity pulling at the edges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/an-hour-passed-and-another-and-then-like-a-glass-of-water-overfilled/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“Nourish yourself mindfully, Give from the overflow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-papa/nourish-yourself-mindfully-give-from-the-overflow/) Lee Papa ## More by George Bernard Shaw > [I love little children too but I don't cut off their heads and stick them in vases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-love-little-children-too-but-i-don-t-cut-off-their-heads-and-stick/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Blasphemy and sedition (meaning the truth about Church and State).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/blasphemy-and-sedition-meaning-the-truth-about-church-and-state/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In the arts of life, man invents nothing; but in the arts of death he outdoes Nature herself, and produces by chemistry and machinery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-the-arts-of-life-man-invents-nothing-but-in-the-arts-of-death-he/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“My religious convictions and scientific views cannot at present be more specifically defined than as those of a believer in creative evolution. I desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/my-religious-convictions-and-scientific-views-cannot-at-present-be/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [What a man believes may be ascertained, not from his creed, but from the assumptions on which he habitually acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/what-a-man-believes-may-be-ascertained-not-from-his-creed-but-from/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-are-my-inspiration-and-my-folly-you-are-my-light-across-the-sea/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Men have to do some awfully mean things to keep up their respectability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/men-have-to-do-some-awfully-mean-things-to-keep-up-their/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The schoolmaster is the person who takes the children off the parents' hands for a consideration. That is to say, he establishes a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-schoolmaster-is-the-person-who-takes-the-children-off-the-parents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-long-as-i-have-a-want-i-have-a-reason-for-living-satisfaction-is/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The camera can represent flesh so superbly that, if I dared, I would never photograph a figure without asking that figure to take its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-camera-can-represent-flesh-so-superbly-that-if-i-dared-i-would/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [A man who is not a communist at the age of twenty is a fool. Any man who is still communist at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-man-who-is-not-a-communist-at-the-age-of-twenty-is-a-fool-any-man/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [But to admire a strong person and to live under that strong person’s thumb are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/but-to-admire-a-strong-person-and-to-live-under-that-strong-person-s/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/socialism-is-the-same-as-communism-only-better-english/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The person who is ignorant enough to believe that his nourishment depends on meat is in a horrible dilemma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-person-who-is-ignorant-enough-to-believe-that-his-nourishment/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In the arts of peace Man is a bungler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-the-arts-of-peace-man-is-a-bungler/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Explore all 1,640 George Bernard Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## More Adventurer quotes > [ There was another reason \[she\] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-books-whenever-they-went-away/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“I know I am planning to visit a "land" that is not entirely foreign, only foreign to me. As an adventurer, I am on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-barnicke-belleghem/i-know-i-am-planning-to-visit-a-land-that-is-not-entirely-foreign/) [Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-barnicke-belleghem/) > [Every flyer who ventures across oceans to distant lands is a potential explorer; in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-batten/every-flyer-who-ventures-across-oceans-to-distant-lands-is-a/) Jean Batten > [Some gifted adventurer is always sailing round the world of art and science, to bring home costly merchandise from every port.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/some-gifted-adventurer-is-always-sailing-round-the-world-of-art-and/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [If we are going to make the change from community to communitas, and not just end up with an unsustainable adrenaline-junkie culture, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/if-we-are-going-to-make-the-change-from-community-to-communitas-and/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [“The mind is a wild thing. An adventurer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-spencer/the-mind-is-a-wild-thing-an-adventurer/) [A. Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-spencer/) > [Oh, children, growing up to be Adventurers into sophistry, Forbear, forbear to be of those That read the rood to learn the rose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/oh-children-growing-up-to-be-adventurers-into-sophistry-forbear/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Today we see the steady stream from the countryside to the city, deadly for the Volk. The cities swell ever larger, unnerving the Volk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-rosenberg/today-we-see-the-steady-stream-from-the-countryside-to-the-city/) [Alfred Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-rosenberg/) > [“One man can go where a group cannot, and manage on very little, particularly a rough adventurer such as he. More the point, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-novik/one-man-can-go-where-a-group-cannot-and-manage-on-very-little/) [Naomi Novik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-novik/) > [Adventurer: he that goes to meet whatever may come. Well, that is what we all do in the world one way or another...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rider-haggard/adventurer-he-that-goes-to-meet-whatever-may-come-well-that-is-what/) [H. Rider Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rider-haggard/) > [“This is what it means to be an adventurer in our day: to give up creature comforts of the mind, to realize the possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hib-chickena/this-is-what-it-means-to-be-an-adventurer-in-our-day-to-give-up/) Hib Chickena > [The division of the spoils between the victors will also provide employment for a powerful office, whose doorsteps the greedy adventurers and jealous concession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/the-division-of-the-spoils-between-the-victors-will-also-provide/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [“Sometimes I think I live in a gap between two worlds, one world that I have to wake up to, be adherent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riitta-klint/sometimes-i-think-i-live-in-a-gap-between-two-worlds-one-world-that-i/) [Riitta Klint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riitta-klint/) [Browse all 184 Adventurer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man's interest in the world is only the overflow from his interest in himself. 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