Accounts Quote by Gordon B. Hinckley
“Why all of these broken homes? What happens to marriages that begin with sincere love and a desire to be loyal and faithful and true one to another? There is no simple answer. I acknowledge that. But it appears to me that there are some obvious reasons that account for a very high percentage of these problems. I say this out of experience in dealing with such tragedies. I find selfishness to be the root cause of most of it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, 2005
Many marriages fail despite sincere love because selfishness erodes loyalty and faithfulness, leading to high divorce rates.
In simple terms: Selfishness often undermines marriage, causing breakdowns despite good intentions.
Cultivate selflessness in partnership.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- family therapy
- personal accountability
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What can partners do to reduce selfish tendencies?
- How can community support strengthen marriages?
Selfishness isn’t the only factor; external pressures also matter.