Business Quote by Muhammad Yunus
“There is the expression of selfishness and there is the expression of selflessness - but economists or theoreticians never touched that part. They said: 'Go and become a philanthropist.' I said, 'No, I can do that in the business world, create a different kind of business - a business based on selflessness.'”
About This Quote
Economic models often ignore the moral dimension; business can be structured around altruism rather than profit alone.
In simple terms: Business can embody selflessness.
Key Takeaway
Selfless entrepreneurship is possible.
Themes
economics
social enterprise
philanthropy
business ethics
Mood
inspirational
hopeful
Type
philosophical
business
When to use this quote
- social venture start‑up
- B‑Corp certification
- profit‑sharing employee model
Key Concepts
moral economics
shared value creation
Practical Applications
- Design a business plan with a social impact mission
- Integrate stakeholder value metrics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can profit motives align with altruistic goals?
- What safeguards prevent mission drift?
A Different Perspective
Selflessness may clash with market incentives, requiring careful governance.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
