Aim Quote by Max Stirner
“Where the world comes in my way - and it comes in my way everywhere - I consume it to quiet the hunger of my egoism. For me you are nothing but - my food, even as I too am fed upon and turned to use by you. We have only one relation to each other, that of usableness, of utility, of use. We owe each other nothing, for what I seem to owe you I owe at most to myself. If I show you a cheery air in order to cheer you likewise, then your cheeriness is of consequence to me, and my air serves my wish; to a thousand others, whom I do not aim to cheer, I do not show it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ego and Its Own by Max Stirner, 1844
The author sees all relations as utilitarian, denying any inherent moral duty beyond self-interest and mutual usefulness.
In simple terms: People are useful only for personal gain, not out of moral obligation.
Key Takeaway
Act based on self‑interest, not on presumed duties.
Themes
egoism
utilitarianism
individualism
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- business negotiations
- political alliances
- social contracts
Key Concepts
self‑interest
mutual utility
philosophical egoism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever act without expecting personal benefit?
- Can genuine care exist without self‑interest?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all interactions can be reduced to utility, ignoring altruistic motives.
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