---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But egoism is more than this. It is the…"
description: "\"But egoism is more than this. It is the realization by the individual that he is above all institutions and all formulas; that they exist only so far a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/john-buchanan-robinson-22642_accepting_but-egoism-is-more-than-this-it-is-the-r_1808491.jpg"
---

#  But egoism is more than this. It is the realization by the…

![“But egoism is more than this. It is the realization by the individual that he is above all institutions and all formulas; that they exist only so far as he chooses to make them his own by accepting them.” quote by John Buchanan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/john-buchanan-robinson-22642_accepting_but-egoism-is-more-than-this-it-is-the-r_1808491.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/john-buchanan-robinson-22642_accepting_but-egoism-is-more-than-this-it-is-the-r_1808491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/john-buchanan-robinson-22642_accepting_but-egoism-is-more-than-this-it-is-the-r_1808491.jpg)

> “But egoism is more than this. It is the realization by the individual that he is above all institutions and all formulas; that they exist only so far as he chooses to make them his own by accepting them.”

[John Buchanan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchanan-robinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Egoism asserts that individuals view themselves as superior to all institutions and formulas, only adopting them when they serve personal will.

**In simple terms:** Egoism sees self as above all systems, accepting them only if personally useful.

Key Takeaway

Beware of self‑centered worldview that dismisses collective structures.

Themes

philosophy egoism individualism institutional critique

Mood

critical philosophical thought‑provoking

Type

theoretical ethical

When to use this quote

- personal decision making
- organizational policy
- ethical debates

Key Concepts

autonomy subjectivity power dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does egoism affect collaboration?
- Can personal agency coexist with institutional responsibility?

A Different Perspective

Egoism may ignore interdependence and societal needs.

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[Egoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egoism/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization/)

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