The principle we call self-love never seeks anything external for the sake of the thing, but only as a means of happiness or good: particular affections rest in the external things themselves.

Quote by Joseph Butler

Topics: Joseph Butler Quotes

The object of self-love is expressed in the term self; and every appetite of sense,...

The object of self-love is expressed in the term self; and every appetite of sense,...

The private interest of the individual would not be sufficiently provided for by reasonable and...

The private interest of the individual would not be sufficiently provided for by reasonable and...

Compassion is a call, a demand of nature, to relieve the unhappy as hunger is...

Compassion is a call, a demand of nature, to relieve the unhappy as hunger is...

However, without considering this connection, there is no doubt but that more good than evil,...

However, without considering this connection, there is no doubt but that more good than evil,...

Self-love then does not constitute THIS or THAT to be our interest or good; but,...

Self-love then does not constitute THIS or THAT to be our interest or good; but,...

Man may act according to that principle or inclination which for the present happens to...

Man may act according to that principle or inclination which for the present happens to...

The final causes, then, of compassion are to prevent and to relieve misery.

The final causes, then, of compassion are to prevent and to relieve misery.

God Almighty is, to be sure, unmoved by passion or appetite, unchanged by affection; but...

God Almighty is, to be sure, unmoved by passion or appetite, unchanged by affection; but...

Every one of our passions and affections hath its natural stint and bound, which may...

Every one of our passions and affections hath its natural stint and bound, which may...

Remember likewise there are persons who love fewer words, an inoffensive sort of people, and...

Remember likewise there are persons who love fewer words, an inoffensive sort of people, and...

Thus self-love as one part of human nature, and the several particular principles as the...

Thus self-love as one part of human nature, and the several particular principles as the...

Pain and sorrow and misery have a right to our assistance: compassion puts us in...

Pain and sorrow and misery have a right to our assistance: compassion puts us in...

Every man hath a general desire of his own happiness; and likewise a variety of...

Every man hath a general desire of his own happiness; and likewise a variety of...

The tongue may be employed about, and made to serve all the purposes of vice,...

The tongue may be employed about, and made to serve all the purposes of vice,...

This was the man, this Balaam, I say, was the man, who desired to die...

This was the man, this Balaam, I say, was the man, who desired to die...

Happiness does not consist in self-love.

Happiness does not consist in self-love.

Love of our neighbour, then, has just the same respect to, is no more distant...

Love of our neighbour, then, has just the same respect to, is no more distant...

People might love themselves with the most entire and unbounded affection, and yet be extremely...

People might love themselves with the most entire and unbounded affection, and yet be extremely...

Happiness or satisfaction consists only in the enjoyment of those objects which are by nature...

Happiness or satisfaction consists only in the enjoyment of those objects which are by nature...

Consequently it will often happen there will be a desire of particular objects, in cases...

Consequently it will often happen there will be a desire of particular objects, in cases...