--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...and as a result yet today we are…" description: "\"“...and as a result yet today we are unable to distinguish between sympathy and selfishness.”\" — M.H. Rakib" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/m-h-rakib-12532_selfishness_and-as-a-result-yet-today-we-are-unable_2591863.jpg" --- # ...and as a result yet today we are unable to distinguish… ![“...and as a result yet today we are unable to distinguish between sympathy and selfishness.” quote by M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/m-h-rakib-12532_selfishness_and-as-a-result-yet-today-we-are-unable_2591863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/m-h-rakib-12532_selfishness_and-as-a-result-yet-today-we-are-unable_2591863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/m-h-rakib-12532_selfishness_and-as-a-result-yet-today-we-are-unable_2591863.jpg) > ““...and as a result yet today we are unable to distinguish between sympathy and selfishness.”” [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern society struggles to differentiate genuine empathy from selfish motives. **In simple terms:** Hard to tell sympathy from selfishness today. Key Takeaway Cultivate authentic empathy. Themes psychology ethics society Mood skeptical inquisitive Type analytical practical When to use this quote - interpersonal relationships - leadership - community building Key Concepts moral psychology social perception Questions to Reflect On - How can you test sincerity? - What signs reveal true empathy? A Different Perspective Self‑interest can mask as empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really distinguish between sympathy and honesty when I'm writing. The two go together - I'm interested in inhabiting my characters, seeing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-don-t-really-distinguish-between-sympathy-and-honesty-when-i-m/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I am unable to distinguish between the feeling I have for life and my way of expressing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-am-unable-to-distinguish-between-the-feeling-i-have-for-life-and-my/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [The trouble with the media is that it seems unable to distinguish between the end of the world and a bicycle accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-trouble-with-the-media-is-that-it-seems-unable-to-distinguish/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I am unable to distinguish clearly between your religious ceremonies and apparently identical behavior at the sporting and cultural functions you have transmitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-am-unable-to-distinguish-clearly-between-your-religious-ceremonies/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-cannot-live-for-ourselves-alone-our-lives-are-connected-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is difficult to feel sympathy for these people. It is difficult to regard some bawdy drunk and see them as sick and powerless.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-is-difficult-to-feel-sympathy-for-these-people-it-is-difficult-to/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I'm not looking for sympathy, just understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-looking-for-sympathy-just-understanding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“George's hand lifted and fell away again. It seemed an insult to imply that anything so small as a touch could stop the raw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/george-s-hand-lifted-and-fell-away-again-it-seemed-an-insult-to-imply/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [Extremist perspectives win sympathy and recruits because they offer narratives that claim to identify deep injustices and enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-gahr-store/extremist-perspectives-win-sympathy-and-recruits-because-they-offer/) [Jonas Gahr Store](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-gahr-store/) > [When you lose a person you love so much, surviving the loss is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiano-ronaldo/when-you-lose-a-person-you-love-so-much-surviving-the-loss-is/) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiano-ronaldo/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) ## More by M.H. Rakib > [“We should believe in quality of books rather than quantity of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/we-should-believe-in-quality-of-books-rather-than-quantity-of-books/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“One should try to live with his abilities rather than his deprivals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/one-should-try-to-live-with-his-abilities-rather-than-his-deprivals/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“…because people die but their memories not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/because-people-die-but-their-memories-not/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“The only person, who can influence your life is YOU and it's never too late to recognize your worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/the-only-person-who-can-influence-your-life-is-you-and-it-s-never-too/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“It takes a second to fall in, and a life to get up again...it takes ages to heal...love doesn't spare you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/it-takes-a-second-to-fall-in-and-a-life-to-get-up-again-it-takes-ages/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“There is no actual need of humans to be a pious like an angel, it's a big chase to be a human and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/there-is-no-actual-need-of-humans-to-be-a-pious-like-an-angel-it-s-a/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“When our feelings and observations contradict, problems arise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/when-our-feelings-and-observations-contradict-problems-arise/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Sometimes, even pretty simple situations can become tough, when the thing you love the most and the thing you have to sacrifice is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/sometimes-even-pretty-simple-situations-can-become-tough-when-the/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Humanity can withstand each dearth except of love and care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/humanity-can-withstand-each-dearth-except-of-love-and-care/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Already my life was not mine, Now someone has made my Dreams the Tenement so, I have no way other than to love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/already-my-life-was-not-mine-now-someone-has-made-my-dreams-the/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Better or worse, we are living such a fallacious world, where people like to seek their own interests in in others' matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/better-or-worse-we-are-living-such-a-fallacious-world-where-people/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“To kill someone it's not necessary to have weapons, your words and attitude can do the same job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/to-kill-someone-it-s-not-necessary-to-have-weapons-your-words-and/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Let the dreams and desires jut out as these are initial and crucial steps on the way to our destinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/let-the-dreams-and-desires-jut-out-as-these-are-initial-and-crucial/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“When things went dark and you search for a light to see things clearly, that light is guidance. Don't wait for it, actually you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/when-things-went-dark-and-you-search-for-a-light-to-see-things/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Success is anything that gives you strength to work harder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/success-is-anything-that-gives-you-strength-to-work-harder/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) [Explore all 54 M.H. Rakib quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) ## More Selfishness quotes > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [The State must act as the guardian of a millennial future in the face of which the wishes and the selfishness of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-state-must-act-as-the-guardian-of-a-millennial-future-in-the-face/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Selfish people make me sick to my stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/selfish-people-make-me-sick-to-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a selfish guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-m-not-a-selfish-guy/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer surround myself around selfish people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-no-longer-surround-myself-around-selfish-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [“We usually live our lives with the belief that "I sacrifice myself for everyone else," rather than thinking that "everyone else helps me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-woong-kim/we-usually-live-our-lives-with-the-belief-that-i-sacrifice-myself-for/) Jae Woong Kim > [“Whether out of inertia or selfishness, whether out of fear or a simple lack of moral imagination, we so often spend our lives as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obama/whether-out-of-inertia-or-selfishness-whether-out-of-fear-or-a-simple/) [Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obama/) > [You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-are-my-inspiration-and-my-folly-you-are-my-light-across-the-sea/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Browse all 2,157 Selfishness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...and as a result yet today we are unable to distinguish between sympathy and selfishness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.H. 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