Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Fight selfishness unless doing so causes deep sadness.
In plain terms
Try not to be selfish but not if it makes you very sad.
What can you take from it?
Balance self-control with self-compassion.

Where it applies

  • self-improvement
  • mental health
  • ethical struggles

Putting it to work

  • recognize limits
  • balance goals with well-being

Questions to consider

  • Is sorrow a fair stop sign?
  • How much effort is required?

Another view

Limiting effort to avoid sorrow can excuse continued selfishness.

More from Thomas Jackson

  1. Never speak disrespectfully of anyone without a cause.

    Permalink to quote #32
  2. Let your conduct towards men have some uniformity.

    Permalink to quote #34
  3. Endeavor to do well with everything you undertake.

    Permalink to quote #31

Related quotes

  1. 'She enjoys extremes, but in life her emotions are always in check.'

    Katie MeluaKatie Melua quote #22
  2. A man who allows wild passion to arise within, himself burns his heart, then after burning adds the wind that thereto which ignites the fire again, or not, as …

    Jack KerouacJack Kerouac quote #50
  3. By the time we've made it, we've had it.

    Malcolm ForbesMalcolm Forbes quote #3