Race prejudice is the devil unchained.
Charles W. ChesnuttRead
Selfishness is the most constant of human motives. Patriotism, humanity, or the love of God may lead to sporadic outbursts sweep away the heaped-up wrongs of centuries; but they languish at times, while the love of self works on ceaselessly, unwearyingly,burrowing always at the very root of life, and heaping up fresh wrongs for other centuries to sweep away.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Selfishness is a fundamental and unchanging aspect of human nature that often drives our actions.
In this quote, Chesnutt highlights selfishness as an inherent and persistent human motive that overshadows other ideals like patriotism or love for humanity. While these values may inspire actions that promote collective good, they are temporary and inconsistent compared to the relentless and continuous nature of self-interest, which ultimately contributes to a cycle of wrongs that perpetuates suffering over time.
Themes
SelfishnessHuman NatureMotivesSelf-InterestSociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on moral philosophy, one might reference this quote to illustrate the predominant role of selfishness in human actions.
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