--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The principle of private happiness…" description: "\"“The principle of private happiness, however, is the most objectionable, not merely because it is false, and experience contradicts the supposition tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/736/immanuel-kant-532_abortion_the-principle-of-private-happiness-howev_2310591.jpg" --- # The principle of private happiness, however, is the most… ![“The principle of private happiness, however, is the most objectionable, not merely because it is false, and experience contradicts the supposition that prosperity is always proportioned to good conduct, nor yet merely because it contributes nothing to the establishment of morality - since it is…” quote by Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/736/immanuel-kant-532_abortion_the-principle-of-private-happiness-howev_2310591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/736/immanuel-kant-532_abortion_the-principle-of-private-happiness-howev_2310591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/736/immanuel-kant-532_abortion_the-principle-of-private-happiness-howev_2310591.jpg) > ““The principle of private happiness, however, is the most objectionable, not merely because it is false, and experience contradicts the supposition that prosperity is always proportioned to good conduct, nor yet merely because it contributes nothing to the establishment of morality - since it is quite a different thing to make a prosperous man and a good man, or to make one prudent and sharp-sighted for his own interests, and to make him virtuous - but because the springs it provides for morality are such as rather undermine it and destroy its sublimity, since they put the motives to virtue and to vice in the same class, and only teach us to make a better calculation, the specific difference between virtue and vice being entirely extinguished. On the other hand, as to moral being, this supposed special sense, the appeal to it is indeed superficial when those who cannot think believe that feeling will help them out, even in what concerns general laws; and besides, feelings which naturally differ infinitely in degree cannot furnish a uniform standard of good and evil, nor has anyone a right to form judgments for others by his own feelings...”” [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kant argues that private happiness is unreliable for moral guidance because it blends self‑interest with virtue, eroding the distinction between good and bad motives. **In simple terms:** Private happiness mixes self‑interest with virtue, confusing moral judgment. Key Takeaway Seek moral standards beyond personal pleasure. Themes morality ethics motivation human nature Mood thoughtful critical inquisitive Type philosophical ethical reflective When to use this quote - personal decision making - public policy - education - leadership - lawmaking Key Concepts Kantian ethics practical reason moral psychology Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your moral choices? - Can happiness be a reliable moral compass? A Different Perspective Relying on personal happiness can lead to moral relativism and self‑justification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Absolute truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Gay marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-marriage/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [The fear of punishment may be necessary to the suppression of vice; but it also suspends the finer motives of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-fear-of-punishment-may-be-necessary-to-the-suppression-of-vice/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“In our opinion, there is no public good other than one that assures the citizens' private good; we judge institutions from the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/in-our-opinion-there-is-no-public-good-other-than-one-that-assures/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Each in the most hidden sack kept the lost jewels of memory, intense love, secret nights and permanent kisses, the fragment of public or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/each-in-the-most-hidden-sack-kept-the-lost-jewels-of-memory-intense/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [Feminism's agenda is basic: It asks that women not be forced to 'choose' between public justice and private happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-faludi/feminism-s-agenda-is-basic-it-asks-that-women-not-be-forced-to-choose/) [Susan Faludi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-faludi/) > [The man whose bosom neither riches nor luxury nor grandeur can render happy may, with a book in his hand, forget all his torments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/the-man-whose-bosom-neither-riches-nor-luxury-nor-grandeur-can-render/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [Keep your drama private and your happiness public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/keep-your-drama-private-and-your-happiness-public/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [ “...\[T\]here is no art in being intelligible if one renounces all thoroughness of insight; but also it produces a disgusting medley of compiled observations… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/t-here-is-no-art-in-being-intelligible-if-one-renounces-all/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Imitation finds no place at all in morality, and examples serve only for encouragement, that is, they put beyond doubt the feasibility of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/imitation-finds-no-place-at-all-in-morality-and-examples-serve-only/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Who can know what love means at the feet of the absolute truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/who-can-know-what-love-means-at-the-feet-of-the-absolute-truth/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. 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Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The principle of private happiness, however, is the most objectionable, not merely because it is false, and experience contradicts the supposition that prosperity is always proportioned to good conduct, nor yet merely because it contributes nothing to the establishment of morality - since it is quite a different thing to make a prosperous man and a good man, or to make one prudent and sharp-sighted for his own interests, and to make him virtuous - but because the springs it provides for morality are such as rather undermine it and destroy its sublimity, since they put the motives to virtue and to vice in the same class, and only teach us to make a better calculation, the specific difference between virtue and vice being entirely extinguished. 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