Capable Quote by Jim Broadbent
“I think we all have a selfish gene which rises to the top, sometimes. But then we're also all capable of a sudden magnanimity.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: BBC Radio 4, 2015
People have innate selfish drives, but also the capacity for sudden generous acts that transcend self-interest.
In simple terms: We are both selfish and capable of generosity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and nurture altruism.
Themes
human nature
ethics
duality
Mood
thoughtful
hopeful
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teamwork
- conflict resolution
- leadership
- community service
Key Concepts
evolutionary biology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you acted generously despite personal cost?
- What triggers your altruistic moments?
A Different Perspective
Selfish impulses often dominate in competitive settings.
![“A foreign publisher of my first book [ The Selfish Gene ] confessed that he could not sleep for three nights after reading it, so troubled was he by what he saw as its cold, bleak message. Others have asked me how I can bear to get up in the mornings. A teacher from a distant country wrote to me…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/765/richard-dawkins-115_book_a-foreign-publisher-of-my-first-book-the_51527.jpg)
![“[The Community's] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it is always upon nothingness that God is pleased to rear His works. If at any day we accomplish some good here, the glory will certainly be His alone, since…” quote by Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b8/theodore-guerin-54729_accomplish_the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give_7176.jpg)
