--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're either selfish, or you're a…" description: "\"You're either selfish, or you're a servant...but fundamentally selfish people are terrible friends, terrible lovers, terrible spouses, terrible Christi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/mark-driscoll-2287_being-selfish_you-re-either-selfish-or-you-re-a-servan_1927624.png" --- # You're either selfish, or you're a servant...but… ![“You're either selfish, or you're a servant...but fundamentally selfish people are terrible friends, terrible lovers, terrible spouses, terrible Christians, terrible parents. They leave a terrible legacy. Will you be selfish? Will you be a servant?...A good marriage is a servant and a servant.” quote by Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/mark-driscoll-2287_being-selfish_you-re-either-selfish-or-you-re-a-servan_1927624.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/mark-driscoll-2287_being-selfish_you-re-either-selfish-or-you-re-a-servan_1927624.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/mark-driscoll-2287_being-selfish_you-re-either-selfish-or-you-re-a-servan_1927624.png) > “You're either selfish, or you're a servant...but fundamentally selfish people are terrible friends, terrible lovers, terrible spouses, terrible Christians, terrible parents. They leave a terrible legacy. Will you be selfish? Will you be a servant?...A good marriage is a servant and a servant.” [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Selfishness erodes relationships and legacy; serving others builds lasting bonds. **In simple terms:** Selfishness harms; serving helps. Key Takeaway Choose service over selfishness. Themes relationships legacy service selfishness Mood reflective serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - marriage - parenting - friendships - community leadership Key Concepts ethical behavior personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How does serving others change your sense of purpose? - What legacy do you want to leave? A Different Perspective Selfish impulses can be hard to resist without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-selfish/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Fundamentally Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentally-selfish-2997199/) [Good marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-marriage/) [Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy/) [Legacy Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy-selfish-2997200/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-people/) [Selfish Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-servant-2997198/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Spouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spouse/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-love/) ## Related quotes > [I was loosely aware that most of my characters were fundamentally selfish people, but I didn't intentionally make that a theme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-was-loosely-aware-that-most-of-my-characters-were-fundamentally/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [You have to understand: the narrative that people have about business and capitalism is that they are fundamentally selfish, greedy, and exploitative. Of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/you-have-to-understand-the-narrative-that-people-have-about-business/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) > [“Arts and disciplines of that kind are fundamentally selfish; they’re all designed to benefit the pupil—not the world - "Ishmael”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/arts-and-disciplines-of-that-kind-are-fundamentally-selfish-they-re/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [Most of the time, the things that really change the world exist for something fundamentally selfish and then the world-changing ends up being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mason/most-of-the-time-the-things-that-really-change-the-world-exist-for/) [Andrew Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mason/) > [“We're terrible together." "It's not about true love, Jess." "If it were love then it's a terrible love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marata-eros/we-re-terrible-together-it-s-not-about-true-love-jess-if-it-were-love/) [Marata Eros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marata-eros/) > [“He loves power. A terrible love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/he-loves-power-a-terrible-love/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [How terrible it was to love people when you could not really share their lives!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/how-terrible-it-was-to-love-people-when-you-could-not-really-share/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [How terrible it is to love something that death can touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vampire-queen/how-terrible-it-is-to-love-something-that-death-can-touch/) [Vampire Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vampire-queen/) > [“But she was the only woman--the only one in the entire world--Terrible loved... If she lost that, she'd lose what made her special. She'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacia-kane/but-she-was-the-only-woman-the-only-one-in-the-entire-world-terrible/) [Stacia Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacia-kane/) > [“I will not tell you one single solitary fact about my work, my friends, or the woman I was arrested with. But I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/i-will-not-tell-you-one-single-solitary-fact-about-my-work-my-friends/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [I surround myself with loyalists and people that I would die for. I just would rather die than make bad stuff for people because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/i-surround-myself-with-loyalists-and-people-that-i-would-die-for-i/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [“It didn't make much sense to me then, what Gnut was going through, but after Pila and me had our little twins, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wells-tower/it-didn-t-make-much-sense-to-me-then-what-gnut-was-going-through-but/) [Wells Tower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wells-tower/) > [I'm a terrible lover. I've actually given a woman an anti-climax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-roeben/i-m-a-terrible-lover-i-ve-actually-given-a-woman-an-anti-climax/) [Scott Roeben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-roeben/) > [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/) > [It amazes me how selfish some people are and how rude people can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-amazes-me-how-selfish-some-people-are-and-how-rude-people-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mark Driscoll > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [A single woman should only marry a man she can follow: Ladies if you are single, be very, very careful who you date and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/a-single-woman-should-only-marry-a-man-she-can-follow-ladies-if-you/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [ “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”\[213\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/to-live-is-christ-and-to-die-is-gain-213/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“The “who” question does not seek answers from God as much as it seeks God himself. 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Nearly every one said the husband had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/to-make-matters-worse-seemingly-every-book-i-read-by-christians-on/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [While this may look loving, when we struggle with an idol of dependence, we’re in fact not loving people as much as we’re using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/while-this-may-look-loving-when-we-struggle-with-an-idol-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [Fear is vision without hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/fear-is-vision-without-hope/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [The only thing worse than dying is living a boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-only-thing-worse-than-dying-is-living-a-boring-life/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“Overt persecution is a daily threat to millions of Christians around the world. Visit Persecution.org to read about current examples of such cases and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/overt-persecution-is-a-daily-threat-to-millions-of-christians-around/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [Work like an Arminian, sleep like a Calvinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/work-like-an-arminian-sleep-like-a-calvinist/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“The essence of masculinity is taking responsibility for yourself, then a wife, then children. These are the kinds of things the Bible says qualify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-essence-of-masculinity-is-taking-responsibility-for-yourself-then/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) [Explore all 174 Mark Driscoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) ## More Being selfish quotes > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [Spoiling yourself is what you call being selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/spoiling-yourself-is-what-you-call-being-selfish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Been accustomed to being selfish...Trying to be a little less each day...Making progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/been-accustomed-to-being-selfish-trying-to-be-a-little-less-each-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When your kid is being selfish or greedy and you want to help them not be that way, you have to find a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/when-your-kid-is-being-selfish-or-greedy-and-you-want-to-help-them/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [My wit is like your legs," said Xochi. " It would be selfish of me to keep it hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/my-wit-is-like-your-legs-said-xochi-it-would-be-selfish-of-me-to-keep/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life. I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/i-am-awfully-greedy-i-want-everything-from-life-i-want-to-be-a-woman/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Sorry for being selfish. I'll try to make it mine. And no matter what they say, I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-for-being-selfish-i-ll-try-to-make-it-mine-and-no-matter-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Few human creatures would consent to be changed into any of the lower animals for a promise of the fullest allowance of a beast's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/few-human-creatures-would-consent-to-be-changed-into-any-of-the-lower/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Working hard for yourself & being selfish are different situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/working-hard-for-yourself-being-selfish-are-different-situations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some things you just have to do for yourself not being selfish just productive...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-things-you-just-have-to-do-for-yourself-not-being-selfish-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Historically, education has been about batch processing: standardize everything against the average, rank kids, sort them to see who gets more and who really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-todd-rose/historically-education-has-been-about-batch-processing-standardize/) [L. Todd Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-todd-rose/) > [These days some Relationships are filled with nothing but selfishness, insecurities, hate, ignorance and cheaters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/these-days-some-relationships-are-filled-with-nothing-but-selfishness/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [Ideas that spread win. Ideas don't have to be selfish to win, in fact, it turns out that the more generous the interactions an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/ideas-that-spread-win-ideas-don-t-have-to-be-selfish-to-win-in-fact/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [I think I was righteous. I saw myself as the good guy in my own movie. I didn't get into many fights when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/i-think-i-was-righteous-i-saw-myself-as-the-good-guy-in-my-own-movie/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [You speak of sacrifice, but it is not my sacrifice I offer. It is yours I ask of you," he went on. "I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-speak-of-sacrifice-but-it-is-not-my-sacrifice-i-offer-it-is-yours/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Browse all 138 Being selfish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-selfish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're either selfish, or you're a servant...but fundamentally selfish people are terrible friends, terrible lovers, terrible spouses, terrible Christians, terrible parents. They leave a terrible legacy. Will you be selfish? 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