Quote by Bertrand Russell

By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in instinct he has remained to a great extent solitary; hence the need of religion and morality to reinforce self-interest


By self-interest, Man has become gregarious, but in instinct

Summary

This quote suggests that humans are naturally inclined towards self-interest and individualism, reflected in their instinctual behavior. However, the emergence of societal structures and the desire to connect with others has made humans more social or "gregarious." Despite this, the quote implies that underlying instincts still drive individuals to prioritize their own needs. Religion and morality are seen as necessary forces to bolster self-interest and maintain social harmony by providing guiding principles and values that encourage people to consider the welfare of others alongside their own interests.

Topics

Self Interest
By Bertrand Russell
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

I am willing to compete on my merits and on my character - n

I am willing to compete on my merits and on my character - not with the color of my skin. We talk about being a color-blind society, but I don't think the political process could actually handle that.

J. C. Watts

Society

I'm very pleased with each advancing year. It stems back to

I'm very pleased with each advancing year. It stems back to when I was forty. I was a bit upset about reaching that milestone, but an older friend consoled me. 'Don't complain about growing old - many, many people do not have that privilege'.

Earl Warren

Age

J'aime en lui sa beauté, sa grâce tant vantée,Présents d

J'aime en lui sa beauté, sa grâce tant vantée,Présents dont la nature a voulu l'honorer,Qu'il méprise lui-même, et qu'il semble ignorer.

Jean Racine

Beauty

What strikes me is the fact that in our society, art has bec

What strikes me is the fact that in our society, art has become something which is only related to objects, and not to individuals, or to life.

Michel Foucault

Art

Not every truth is the better for showing its face undisguis

Not every truth is the better for showing its face undisguised; and often silence is the wisest thing for a man to heed.

Pindar

Truth

I decided that now is the time to start doing the things tha

I decided that now is the time to start doing the things that really interest me and I find important. It was in the 10 years of the MacArthur grant that I began working on my first book... and I began putting more work into environmental history.

Jared Diamond

Environmental

Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before, advanced a

Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before, advanced a stage or two upon that road which you must travel in the steps they trod.

Aristophanes

Death

I originated a remark many years ago that I think has been c

I originated a remark many years ago that I think has been copied more than any little thing that Ive every said, and I used it in the FOLLIES of 1922. I said America has a unique record. We never lost a war and we never won a conference in our lives. I believe that we could without any degree of egotism, single-handed lick any nation in the world. But we cant confer with Costa Rica and come home with our shirts on.

Will Rogers


At this moment I do not have a personal relationship with a

At this moment I do not have a personal relationship with a computer.

Janet Reno

Relationship

My private life is private. But at the same time, I have not

My private life is private. But at the same time, I have nothing to hide.

Cynthia Nixon

Life Time Thetimes

People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort o

People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like.

Abraham Lincoln

Enjoyment

Lawyers I suppose were children once.

Lawyers I suppose were children once.

Charles Lamb