--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we all have a selfish gene which…" description: "\"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.\" — Jim Broadbent" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/jim-broadbent-16636_capable_i-think-we-all-have-a-selfish-gene-which_2309683.jpg" --- # I think we all have a selfish gene which rises to the top… ![“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.” quote by Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/jim-broadbent-16636_capable_i-think-we-all-have-a-selfish-gene-which_2309683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/jim-broadbent-16636_capable_i-think-we-all-have-a-selfish-gene-which_2309683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/jim-broadbent-16636_capable_i-think-we-all-have-a-selfish-gene-which_2309683.jpg) > “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.” [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes/) [Magnanimity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnanimity/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish gene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-gene/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Sudden Magnanimity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sudden-magnanimity-5480560/) [Think Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-selfish-1118240/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't actually think 'The Selfish Gene' is a very good title. I think that's one of my worst titles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-don-t-actually-think-the-selfish-gene-is-a-very-good-title-i-think/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [They are in you and me; they created us, body and mind; and their preservation is the ultimate rationale for our existence. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/they-are-in-you-and-me-they-created-us-body-and-mind-and-their/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We are built as gene machines and cultured as meme machines, but we have the power to turn against our creators. We, alone on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-are-built-as-gene-machines-and-cultured-as-meme-machines-but-we/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have the power to defy the selfish genes of our birth and, if necessary, the selfish memes of our indoctrination. We can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-have-the-power-to-defy-the-selfish-genes-of-our-birth-and-if/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Selfish-gene theory tells us nothing about the value of interacting through language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/selfish-gene-theory-tells-us-nothing-about-the-value-of-interacting/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ “A foreign publisher of my first book \[ The Selfish Gene \] confessed that he could not sleep for three nights after reading it,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/a-foreign-publisher-of-my-first-book-the-selfish-gene-confessed-that/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [To be D-POY is a goal. 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Bickerstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-bickerstaff/) > [For me, to say I want to go to sleep and retire and prepare for my afterlife, I think that is very selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/for-me-to-say-i-want-to-go-to-sleep-and-retire-and-prepare-for-my/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [I think it's selfish to go out partying all the time, especially if you have little ones in your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/i-think-it-s-selfish-to-go-out-partying-all-the-time-especially-if/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [“I know you think I’m selfish and don’t appreciate you, but it’s not true. 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They're not any bigger, but there's just a sort of definition, and a confidence, and strength to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/i-love-french-films-and-european-films-they-re-not-any-bigger-but/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [I'm not that comfortable with actors receiving honours, partly because I think they ought to go to those who really help others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/i-m-not-that-comfortable-with-actors-receiving-honours-partly-because/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [It's so easy as a child to identify with 'Winnie-the-Pooh.' The humour doesn't talk down at you. It's a very grown up humour -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/it-s-so-easy-as-a-child-to-identify-with-winnie-the-pooh-the-humour/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [Other people have a much better idea of what I might do than I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/other-people-have-a-much-better-idea-of-what-i-might-do-than-i/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [People smile at me as if they know me. I just smile back. They probably might know me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/people-smile-at-me-as-if-they-know-me-i-just-smile-back-they-probably/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [I never was a great Thatcher fan, and it wasn't a sad day in my life when she resigned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/i-never-was-a-great-thatcher-fan-and-it-wasn-t-a-sad-day-in-my-life/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [An Oscar clears the deck of envy and resentment. You think, 'Well, I've got that. 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