Selfish motives

“Almost every offensive action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves.” ~Stephen Kendrick 

Sometimes I catch myself doing things that would annoy me if someone else did the same. Talking too much and forgetting to return borrowed books are just a couple of quick examples. (I’m sure my family and close friends would offer a much longer list of aggravating things I do. Just ask.)

So, today’s quote got me thinking about why we’re slow to recognize and correct our own bad behavior — but quick to notice offending behavior in others.

On a larger, universal scale, it explains why some ethnic and religious groups are intolerant of other groups. “Selfish motives” spark conflict and start wars. Everybody believes that their way is the right way, don’t they? Most of our social clashes, large and small, stem from putting our own needs first, without fully considering the needs or feelings of others. ~CL

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