--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Selfishness is the root and source of all…" description: "\"Selfishness is the root and source of all natural and moral evils.\" — Nathanael Emmons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/065/nathanael-emmons-27168_evil_selfishness-is-the-root-and-source-of-al_1975949.jpg" --- # Selfishness is the root and source of all natural and… ![“Selfishness is the root and source of all natural and moral evils.” quote by Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/065/nathanael-emmons-27168_evil_selfishness-is-the-root-and-source-of-al_1975949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/065/nathanael-emmons-27168_evil_selfishness-is-the-root-and-source-of-al_1975949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/065/nathanael-emmons-27168_evil_selfishness-is-the-root-and-source-of-al_1975949.jpg) > “Selfishness is the root and source of all natural and moral evils.” [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Selfishness is the fundamental cause of both natural and moral wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Selfishness leads to all evils. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑lessness to reduce harm. Themes ethics human nature morality selfishness Mood thoughtful critical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - business ethics - environmental stewardship - political policy Key Concepts altruism moral psychology social harmony Questions to Reflect On - What personal habits reinforce selfishness? - How does society reward self‑interest? A Different Perspective Selfish motives can be rationalized, making change difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-evil/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [I believe it to be a great political and a great moral evil. I thank God, my lot has been cast in a state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchanan/i-believe-it-to-be-a-great-political-and-a-great-moral-evil-i-thank/) [James Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchanan/) > [Abortion is without a doubt one of the greatest moral evils within modernity. 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Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [“There is nothing that God has judged good for us that He has not given us the means to acomplish, both in the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/there-is-nothing-that-god-has-judged-good-for-us-that-he-has-not/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The forces that are driving mankind toward unity and peace are deep-seated and powerful. They are material and natural, as well as moral and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henderson/the-forces-that-are-driving-mankind-toward-unity-and-peace-are-deep/) [Arthur Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henderson/) > [Some philosophers tell us that selfishness is at the root of our best loves and affections. 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But I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/if-you-look-at-life-with-any-honesty-and-intelligence-it-s-clear-that/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [“8. Zazen and the Forgetting of Self. Zazen is a most effectual means of destroying selfishness, the root of all Sin, folly, vice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-zazen-and-the-forgetting-of-self-zazen-is-a-most-effectual-means-of/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) ## More by Nathanael Emmons > [One principal reason why men are so often useless is that they neglect their own profession or calling, and divide and shift their attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/one-principal-reason-why-men-are-so-often-useless-is-that-they/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [It is easy to learn something about everything, but difficult to learn everything about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/it-is-easy-to-learn-something-about-everything-but-difficult-to-learn/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Style should be like window-glass, perfectly transparent, and with very little sash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/style-should-be-like-window-glass-perfectly-transparent-and-with-very/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [In reasoning upon moral subjects, we have great occasion for candor, in order to compare circumstances, and weigh arguments with impartiality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/in-reasoning-upon-moral-subjects-we-have-great-occasion-for-candor-in/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [How vast is eternity! - It will swallow up all the human race; it will collect all the intelligent universe; it will open scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/how-vast-is-eternity-it-will-swallow-up-all-the-human-race-it-will/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [There is not a single spot between Christianity and atheism, upon which a man can firmly fix his foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/there-is-not-a-single-spot-between-christianity-and-atheism-upon/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Be short in all religious exercises. Better leave the people longing than loathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/be-short-in-all-religious-exercises-better-leave-the-people-longing/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [You ask if we shall know our friends in heaven. - Do you suppose we are greater fools there than here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/you-ask-if-we-shall-know-our-friends-in-heaven-do-you-suppose-we-are/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Real holiness has love for its essence, humility for its clothing, the good of others as its employment, and the honor of God as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/real-holiness-has-love-for-its-essence-humility-for-its-clothing-the/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [The more men have multiplied the forms of religion, so much the more has vital godliness declined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/the-more-men-have-multiplied-the-forms-of-religion-so-much-the-more/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [These two rules make the best system: first, have something to say; second, say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/these-two-rules-make-the-best-system-first-have-something-to-say/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [The more men have multiplied the forms of religion, the more vital Godliness has declined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/the-more-men-have-multiplied-the-forms-of-religion-the-more-vital/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence that creatures can exhibit of their sincere and supreme love to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/obedience-to-god-is-the-most-infallible-evidence-that-creatures-can/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [The weakest spot in every man is where he thinks himself to be the wisest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/the-weakest-spot-in-every-man-is-where-he-thinks-himself-to-be-the/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Just definitions either prevent or put an end to disputes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/just-definitions-either-prevent-or-put-an-end-to-disputes/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) [Explore all 21 Nathanael Emmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) ## More Evil quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. 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Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. 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