--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take egotism out and you would castrate…" description: "\"Take egotism out and you would castrate the benefactors.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benefactors_take-egotism-out-and-you-would-castrate_1503430.png" --- # Take egotism out and you would castrate the benefactors. ![“Take egotism out and you would castrate the benefactors.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benefactors_take-egotism-out-and-you-would-castrate_1503430.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benefactors_take-egotism-out-and-you-would-castrate_1503430.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benefactors_take-egotism-out-and-you-would-castrate_1503430.png) > “Take egotism out and you would castrate the benefactors.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Egotism undermines the value of those who help others, reducing their impact. **In simple terms:** Selfishness harms benefactors. Key Takeaway Avoid selfishness to honor helpers. Themes humility gratitude social responsibility Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - team projects - mentorship - community service - leadership - philanthropy Key Concepts ego altruism recognition Questions to Reflect On - How does ego affect your relationships? - Can you recognize hidden benefactors? A Different Perspective Selfish motives can still motivate positive outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benefactors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefactors/) [Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) ## Related quotes > [Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-evil-to-which-we-do-not-succumb-is-a-benefactor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Talent for talent's sake is a bauble and a show. 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The wars which make history so dreary have served the cause of truth and virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-cruelest-foe-is-a-masked-benefactor-the-wars-which-make-history/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [This whole business of Trade gives me to pause and think, as it constitutes false relations between men; inasmuch as I am prone tocount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/this-whole-business-of-trade-gives-me-to-pause-and-think-as-it/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Providence has a wild, rough, incalculable road to its end, and it is of no use to try to whitewash its huge, mixed instrumentalities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/providence-has-a-wild-rough-incalculable-road-to-its-end-and-it-is-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The Buddhist, who thanks no man, who says "Do not flatter your benefactors," but who, in his conviction that every good deed can by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-buddhist-who-thanks-no-man-who-says-do-not-flatter-your/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If you have a nation of men who have risen to that height of moral cultivation that they will not declare war or carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-you-have-a-nation-of-men-who-have-risen-to-that-height-of-moral/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Oh, hell to the no, he did not just storm out of there like a drama queen. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Props to Ornette Coleman for trying to castrate himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoni-wolf/props-to-ornette-coleman-for-trying-to-castrate-himself/) Yoni Wolf > [“At what age , he wonders, did Origen castrate himself? Not the most graceful solution, but then ageing is not a graceful bussines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/at-what-age-he-wonders-did-origen-castrate-himself-not-the-most/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Where even if someone loves you enough to save your life, they still castrate you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/where-even-if-someone-loves-you-enough-to-save-your-life-they-still/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. 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Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Benefactors quotes > [I happen to have the benefit of having a son-in-law who was the former Mr. France and a trainer. I like being his benefactor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/i-happen-to-have-the-benefit-of-having-a-son-in-law-who-was-the/) [Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. 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Would they release a movie if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-wildmon/would-movie-moguls-release-a-film-portraying-adolph-hitler-as-a-great/) Donald Wildmon > [Brothers, the white people are like poisonous serpents: when chilled they are feeble and harmless, but invigorate them with warmth and they sting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/brothers-the-white-people-are-like-poisonous-serpents-when-chilled/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/when-men-receive-favours-from-someone-they-expected-to-do-them-ill/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Throughout my life, my greatest benefactors have been my dreams and my travels; very few men, living or dead, have helped me in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/throughout-my-life-my-greatest-benefactors-have-been-my-dreams-and-my/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [He is a benefactor of mankind who contracts the great rules of life into the short sentences, that may be easily impressed on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-is-a-benefactor-of-mankind-who-contracts-the-great-rules-of-life/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [People hired by government know who is their benefactor. People who lose their jobs or fail to get them because of the government program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/people-hired-by-government-know-who-is-their-benefactor-people-who/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I account the office of benefactor, or almoner, to which God appoints all those whom he has favored with wealth, one of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/i-account-the-office-of-benefactor-or-almoner-to-which-god-appoints/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [Throughout my life my greatest benefactors have been my travels and my dreams. Very few men, living or dead, have helped me in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/throughout-my-life-my-greatest-benefactors-have-been-my-travels-and/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/look-at-every-path-closely-and-deliberately-try-it-as-many-times-as/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/no-one-is-to-be-called-an-enemy-all-are-your-benefactors-and-no-one/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [A benefactor is a representative of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/a-benefactor-is-a-representative-of-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [ First, therefore, \[the Jew\] goes about making up to the people for his previous sins against them. 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