--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No universal selfishness can bring social…" description: "\"No universal selfishness can bring social good to all. Communism - the effort to give all men what they need and to ask of each the best they can contr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/w-e-b-du-bois-2240_best_no-universal-selfishness-can-bring-socia_481286.png" --- # No universal selfishness can bring social good to all… ![“No universal selfishness can bring social good to all. Communism - the effort to give all men what they need and to ask of each the best they can contribute - this is the only way of human life.” quote by W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/w-e-b-du-bois-2240_best_no-universal-selfishness-can-bring-socia_481286.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/w-e-b-du-bois-2240_best_no-universal-selfishness-can-bring-socia_481286.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/w-e-b-du-bois-2240_best_no-universal-selfishness-can-bring-socia_481286.png) > “No universal selfishness can bring social good to all. Communism - the effort to give all men what they need and to ask of each the best they can contribute - this is the only way of human life.” [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collective well‑being requires shared responsibility, not selfishness, and a system that meets everyone's needs while encouraging contribution. **In simple terms:** Helping everyone needs each person to give and receive. Key Takeaway Promote mutual support and fair contribution. Themes social justice collectivism human dignity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - community programs - public policy - co‑operative enterprises - social welfare planning Key Concepts egalitarianism social contract needs‑based economics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance collective needs with personal freedom? - What safeguards prevent abuse of communal resources? A Different Perspective May overlook individual autonomy and incentive structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Social good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-good/) ## Related quotes > [No universal selfishness can bring social good to all,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/no-universal-selfishness-can-bring-social-good-to-all/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [The right tends to posit that the market fuels social good. The left tends to posit that the government fuels social good. At bottom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-right-tends-to-posit-that-the-market-fuels-social-good-the-left/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Donating to a political party is a social good. It enables democracy and good things to happen in our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/donating-to-a-political-party-is-a-social-good-it-enables-democracy/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [The launch of the National Health Service in 1948, one of the world's foremost examples of something being decommodified in the interest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sarkar/the-launch-of-the-national-health-service-in-1948-one-of-the-world-s/) [Ash Sarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sarkar/) > [Parents realize their wealth should be used for social good rather than children's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azim-premji/parents-realize-their-wealth-should-be-used-for-social-good-rather/) [Azim Premji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azim-premji/) > [“Economics is the art of allocating scarce goods among competing demands. 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I care about those who are not born yet. That is the reason for my joys and blues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petek-kabakci/i-value-individuals-and-societies-i-care-about-those-who-are-not-born/) [Petek Kabakci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petek-kabakci/) ## More by W. E. B. Du Bois > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [As a race, the Negroes are not lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/as-a-race-the-negroes-are-not-lazy/) [W. E. B. 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