--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ironically, brothers and sisters, the…" description: "\"Ironically, brothers and sisters, the natural man who is so very selfish in so many ordinary ways is strangely unselfish in that he reaches for too few..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/neal-a-maxwell-925_brother_ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natu_1404515.png" --- # Ironically, brothers and sisters, the natural man who is… ![“Ironically, brothers and sisters, the natural man who is so very selfish in so many ordinary ways is strangely unselfish in that he reaches for too few of the things that bring real joy. He settles for a mess of pottage instead of eternal joy.” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/neal-a-maxwell-925_brother_ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natu_1404515.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/neal-a-maxwell-925_brother_ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natu_1404515.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/neal-a-maxwell-925_brother_ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natu_1404515.png) > “Ironically, brothers and sisters, the natural man who is so very selfish in so many ordinary ways is strangely unselfish in that he reaches for too few of the things that bring real joy. He settles for a mess of pottage instead of eternal joy.” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human selfishness often masks a deeper longing for true joy, which is found beyond material pursuits. **In simple terms:** People seek joy beyond material things. Key Takeaway Pursue relationships and purpose over possessions. Themes selfishness spiritual fulfillment joy Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual advice When to use this quote - volunteering - community building - mindful meditation Key Concepts materialism inner peace meaningful connections Questions to Reflect On - What brings you lasting joy? - How can you shift focus from possessions to purpose? A Different Perspective Changing habits can be difficult and require support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Man Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-selfish-783073/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-man/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-joy/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-ordinary-4931136/) [Settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling/) [Strangely Unselfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangely-unselfish-4931137/) [Unselfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfish/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-graham-vest/the-one-absolutely-unselfish-friend-that-man-can-have-in-this-selfish-2/) [George Graham Vest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-graham-vest/) > [Promptings for us to do good come from the Holy Ghost. These promptings nudge us further along the straight and narrow path of discipleship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/promptings-for-us-to-do-good-come-from-the-holy-ghost-these/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [In proportion as a man is selfish, so far has he receded from the motive which constitutes virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/in-proportion-as-a-man-is-selfish-so-far-has-he-receded-from-the/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Remember that the best and greatest among mankind are those who do themselves no worldly good. Every successful man is more or less a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/remember-that-the-best-and-greatest-among-mankind-are-those-who-do/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“Now you see, Tom," said Mr. Harthouse (...); "every man is selfish in everything he does, and I am exactly like the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/now-you-see-tom-said-mr-harthouse-every-man-is-selfish-in-everything/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The most altruistic man is the most selfish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-most-altruistic-man-is-the-most-selfish/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The happiest is the man who is not at all selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-happiest-is-the-man-who-is-not-at-all-selfish/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“I wish to pay my debt. To give you the night I owe' ... 'Oh, Charlotte. You play with fire.' 'Do I?' Roman looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mallory/i-wish-to-pay-my-debt-to-give-you-the-night-i-owe-oh-charlotte-you/) [Anne Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mallory/) > [“Curious that a man as selfish as he should be offering himself to the service of dead dogs. There must be other, more productive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/curious-that-a-man-as-selfish-as-he-should-be-offering-himself-to-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [Nothing makes a man so selfish as work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nothing-makes-a-man-so-selfish-as-work/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I am giving you examples of the fact that this creature man, who in his own selfish affairs is a coward to the backbone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-am-giving-you-examples-of-the-fact-that-this-creature-man-who-in/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“A PRIME TRUTH - MAN IS SELFISH (Name of chapter)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-federer/a-prime-truth-man-is-selfish-name-of-chapter/) [William J Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-federer/) > [The abortionist I worked for, he's a very greedy man, a selfish man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-mccorvey/the-abortionist-i-worked-for-he-s-a-very-greedy-man-a-selfish-man/) [Norma McCorvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-mccorvey/) > [Socialism is the ideal state, but it can never be achieved while man is so selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/socialism-is-the-ideal-state-but-it-can-never-be-achieved-while-man/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [“The law of God is not easy for natural man. Its standard is high and cannot be achieved apart from God's supernatural grace. God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedd-tripp/the-law-of-god-is-not-easy-for-natural-man-its-standard-is-high-and/) [Tedd Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedd-tripp/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Brother quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [“Yeah. You treat him like a son or a soldier, instead of like a brother. He wants you to like him and admire him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/yeah-you-treat-him-like-a-son-or-a-soldier-instead-of-like-a-brother/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) [Spencer Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-moody/) > [The only way to make sure that the Hand didn't get to you would have been to kill your brother. I could've done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-only-way-to-make-sure-that-the-hand-didn-t-get-to-you-would-have/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Your favorite son and brother, Shade. Like”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/your-favorite-son-and-brother-shade-like/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [Sister + brother = a lovely family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sister-brother-a-lovely-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I worked in a barbershop. I used to make the waves in the brother's hair, you know? Like, Nat King Cole, Sugar Ray Robinson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clinton/i-worked-in-a-barbershop-i-used-to-make-the-waves-in-the-brother-s/) [George Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clinton/) [Browse all 7,453 Brother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ironically, brothers and sisters, the natural man who is so very selfish in so many ordinary ways is strangely unselfish in that he reaches for too few of the things that bring real joy. He settles for a mess of pottage instead of eternal joy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal A. Maxwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natural-man-who-is-so-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brother" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natural-man-who-is-so-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/neal-a-maxwell-925_brother_ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natu_1404515.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/neal-a-maxwell-925_brother_ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natu_1404515.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/neal-a-maxwell-925_brother_ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natu_1404515.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ironically, brothers and sisters, the natural man who is so very selfish in so many ordinary ways is…” — Neal A. Maxwell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neal A. Maxwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ironically, brothers and sisters, the natural...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natural-man-who-is-so-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ironically-brothers-and-sisters-the-natural-man-who-is-so-very/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```