--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Generosity is the only legitimate…" description: "\"Generosity is the only legitimate selfishness.\" — Mario Benedetti" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/mario-benedetti-1962_generosity_generosity-is-the-only-legitimate-selfis_2174555.jpg" --- # Generosity is the only legitimate selfishness. ![“Generosity is the only legitimate selfishness.” quote by Mario Benedetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/mario-benedetti-1962_generosity_generosity-is-the-only-legitimate-selfis_2174555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/mario-benedetti-1962_generosity_generosity-is-the-only-legitimate-selfis_2174555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/mario-benedetti-1962_generosity_generosity-is-the-only-legitimate-selfis_2174555.jpg) > “Generosity is the only legitimate selfishness.” [Mario Benedetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-benedetti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True generosity benefits both giver and receiver, making self‑interest morally acceptable. **In simple terms:** Being generous is a good kind of selfishness. Key Takeaway Practice giving without expectation. Themes ethics self‑interest altruism Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - gift giving - team collaboration Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology of giving Questions to Reflect On - How can you give without expecting anything? - What are the limits of self‑less generosity? A Different Perspective Self‑interest can still lead to egoism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Generosity Legitimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity-legitimate-4669982/) [Legitimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimate/) [Legitimate Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimate-selfishness-4669981/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [“Why, over the past two decades, have we seen this epidemic of loneliness and meanness, this breakdown in the social fabric? 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I ended up paying the publishers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-benedetti/my-first-two-books-did-nada-i-ended-up-paying-the-publishers/) [Mario Benedetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-benedetti/) > [“Uno no siempre hace lo que quiere, uno no siempre puede, por eso estoy aquí, mirándote y echándote de menos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-benedetti/uno-no-siempre-hace-lo-que-quiere-uno-no-siempre-puede-por-eso-estoy/) [Mario Benedetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-benedetti/) > [I think the only positive thing that came from Uruguays dictatorship was the spread of Montevideo natives around the world, and I continued writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-benedetti/i-think-the-only-positive-thing-that-came-from-uruguays-dictatorship/) [Mario Benedetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-benedetti/) > [“Lo que más me gusta de vos es algo que no habrá tiempo capaz de quitártelo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-benedetti/lo-que-m-s-me-gusta-de-vos-es-algo-que-no-habr-tiempo-capaz-de-quit/) [Mario Benedetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-benedetti/) [Explore all 43 Mario Benedetti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-benedetti/) ## More Generosity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. 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Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Businesses acting as businesses, not as charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing the pressing issues society face(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/businesses-acting-as-businesses-not-as-charitable-donors-are-the-most/) [Tony Elumelu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-elumelu/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. 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