--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no hell like that of a selfish…" description: "\"There is no hell like that of a selfish heart, and there is no misfortune so great as that of not being able to make a sacrifice. These two thoughts co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/julia-ward-howe-10103_able_there-is-no-hell-like-that-of-a-selfish_2475229.jpg" --- # There is no hell like that of a selfish heart, and there… ![“There is no hell like that of a selfish heart, and there is no misfortune so great as that of not being able to make a sacrifice. These two thoughts come to me strongly this morning. It is something to have learned these truths so that we can never again doubt them.” quote by Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/julia-ward-howe-10103_able_there-is-no-hell-like-that-of-a-selfish_2475229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/julia-ward-howe-10103_able_there-is-no-hell-like-that-of-a-selfish_2475229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/julia-ward-howe-10103_able_there-is-no-hell-like-that-of-a-selfish_2475229.jpg) > “There is no hell like that of a selfish heart, and there is no misfortune so great as that of not being able to make a sacrifice. These two thoughts come to me strongly this morning. It is something to have learned these truths so that we can never again doubt them.” [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A selfish heart brings suffering, while the inability to sacrifice causes even greater misfortune; recognizing this truth prevents doubt. **In simple terms:** Selfishness causes pain; inability to sacrifice hurts more. Key Takeaway Cultivate selflessness and willingness to sacrifice. Themes selfishness misfortune sacrifice truth reflection Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership decisions - community service - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts moral philosophy ethical duty personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Can you identify a recent selfish act and its impact? - What sacrifices have you made that brought greater good? A Different Perspective Selfishness may be justified in survival contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [Our virtues are dearer to us the more we have had to suffer for them. It is the same with our children. All profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/our-virtues-are-dearer-to-us-the-more-we-have-had-to-suffer-for-them/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Even though I get excuses from you, I get happiness in giving you the thing you want, It shows my selfless love n your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-though-i-get-excuses-from-you-i-get-happiness-in-giving-you-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What will a man not do when frantic with love? To what baseness will he not demean himself? What pangs will he not make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/what-will-a-man-not-do-when-frantic-with-love-to-what-baseness-will/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [A selfish heart is trouble, but a foolish heart is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grateful-dead/a-selfish-heart-is-trouble-but-a-foolish-heart-is-worse/) [Grateful Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grateful-dead/) > [When you win, you often lose, that's just a fact. There's no currency to straighten a warped spirit, or open a closed heart, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/when-you-win-you-often-lose-that-s-just-a-fact-there-s-no-currency-to/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [“When it comes to misfortune, we are all selfish at heart, offering up the same prayers: not me, not mine. Not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-beckett/when-it-comes-to-misfortune-we-are-all-selfish-at-heart-offering-up/) [Simon Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-beckett/) > [When I'm working on a movie, I will make any sacrifice to finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-king/when-i-m-working-on-a-movie-i-will-make-any-sacrifice-to-finish-it/) [Richard King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-king/) > [Be honest about what you can get. To make a sacrifice and to get what you want you need to be very certain. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/be-honest-about-what-you-can-get-to-make-a-sacrifice-and-to-get-what/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [“Sacrifice! What do I sacrifice? Famine fo food, expectation for content. To be privileged to put my arms round what I value -- to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/sacrifice-what-do-i-sacrifice-famine-fo-food-expectation-for-content/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“If you want to make people believe in imaginary entities such as gods and nations, you should make them sacrifice something valuable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/if-you-want-to-make-people-believe-in-imaginary-entities-such-as-gods/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Jane: Mr. Rochester, if ever I did a good deed in my life-if ever I thought a good thought-if ever I prayed a sincere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/jane-mr-rochester-if-ever-i-did-a-good-deed-in-my-life-if-ever-i/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [You have to make the sacrifice if you want to be the best in what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/you-have-to-make-the-sacrifice-if-you-want-to-be-the-best-in-what-you/) [Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/) > [Do as little harm to others as you can; make any sacrifice for your true friends; be responsible for yourself and ask nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/do-as-little-harm-to-others-as-you-can-make-any-sacrifice-for-your/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [When you make the sacrifice in marriage, you're sacrificing not to each other but to unity in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-make-the-sacrifice-in-marriage-you-re-sacrificing-not-to/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“Think of all the males and females of the animal and plant world, all the opposites in every aspect of life. They all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-moore/think-of-all-the-males-and-females-of-the-animal-and-plant-world-all/) [Thomas Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-moore/) ## More by Julia Ward Howe > [We, women of one country, Will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/we-women-of-one-country-will-be-too-tender-of-those-of-another/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/mine-eyes-have-seen-the-glory-of-the-coming-of-the-lord/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [It is not good for beauty that it should be a profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/it-is-not-good-for-beauty-that-it-should-be-a-profession/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [All the sugar was in the bottom of the cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/all-the-sugar-was-in-the-bottom-of-the-cup/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [How utterly are one's best thoughts invaded by this going out in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/how-utterly-are-one-s-best-thoughts-invaded-by-this-going-out-in/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: / He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/mine-eyes-have-seen-the-glory-of-the-coming-of-the-lord-he-is/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Every newly discovered truth judges the world, separates the good from the evil, and calls on faithful souls to make sure of their election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-newly-discovered-truth-judges-the-world-separates-the-good-from/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Every fallen woman represents a man as guilty as herself, who escapes human detection, but whose soul lies open before God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-fallen-woman-represents-a-man-as-guilty-as-herself-who-escapes/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [While your life is the true expression of your faith, whom can you fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/while-your-life-is-the-true-expression-of-your-faith-whom-can-you-fear/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [The blind must not only be fed and housed and cared for; they must learn to make thir lives useful to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-blind-must-not-only-be-fed-and-housed-and-cared-for-they-must/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [I have never known my husband to approve any act of mine which I myself valued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/i-have-never-known-my-husband-to-approve-any-act-of-mine-which-i/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [ “\[The ideal aim of life is\] to learn, to teach, to serve, to enjoy!” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-ideal-aim-of-life-is-to-learn-to-teach-to-serve-to-enjoy/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Every life has its actual blanks, which the ideal must fill up, or which else remain bare & profitless forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-the-ideal-must-fill-up-or/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [I take refuge in my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/i-take-refuge-in-my-books/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [The language of the face is not taught by the schools; it is intuitive, and to the observant is always legible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-language-of-the-face-is-not-taught-by-the-schools-it-is-intuitive/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) [Explore all 68 Julia Ward Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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