Common good Quote by Pope Francis
““When people become self-centred and self-enclosed, their greed increases. The emptier a person’s heart is, the more he or she needs things to buy, own and consume. It becomes almost impossible to accept the limits imposed by reality. In this horizon, a genuine sense of the common good also disappears. As these attitudes become more widespread, social norms are respected only to the extent that they do not clash with personal needs.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the Synod of Bishops, Vatican, 2015
Self‑centeredness fuels greed, emptiness drives consumption, and limits of reality are rejected, eroding common good and social norms.
In simple terms: Selfishness leads to greed and loss of community values.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate empathy and respect for shared limits.
Themes
greed
selfishness
community
materialism
limits
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
ethical
spiritual
social
When to use this quote
- personal finance decisions
- consumer habits
- policy making
- community building
- environmental stewardship
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
social psychology
spiritual teaching
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance individual desires with collective well‑being?
- What practices reduce the feeling of emptiness?
A Different Perspective
People may resist change due to comfort in material security.
