If you’ve ever typed “selfish quotes” into a search bar hoping to find the perfect line that fits your feelings — whether it’s about people, love, or life — you’re finally in the right place.
You might be scrolling endlessly, trying to find a quote that truly clicks — something deep, funny, or relatable. Well, guess what? The moment you opened this article, your search ended here.
The language is simple enough that even an 8-year-old can read, understand, and share these quotes with anyone.
🌑Quotes About Being Selfish
Best Pick: The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. — Bryant H. McGill
- Selfish persons are incapable of loving others, but they are not capable of loving themselves either. — Erich Fromm
- A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor’s. — F. Richard Whately
- Humans are selfish, and because of our innate selfishness, we can overcome any amount of environmental destruction. — Kristin Armstrong
- To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. — Michael Jordan
- It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes. — Andrew Jackson
- Let us reject violence and selfishness which could destroy our country’s unity. — Mwai Kibaki
- The only difference between a hero and the villain is that the villain chooses to use power selfishly. — Chadwick Boseman
- Be selfless, not selfish. — Rev. Run
- Some say I’m selfish. My approach is the complete opposite of selfishness. — Joey Votto
- It’s good to be selfish. But not so self-centered that you never listen to other people. — Hugh Hefner
- Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to real values. — Pope Paul VI
- Being sorry is the highest act of selfishness, seeing value only after discarding it. — Douglas Horton
⚡Short Selfish Quotes
Best Pick: A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. — Benjamin Franklin
- I’m selfish. — Kendrick Lamar
- Selfishness must always be forgiven; there is no hope of a cure. — Jane Austen
- Selfish people are, by definition, devoted to their own happiness. — Bernard Rimland
- Sometimes you have to make a selfish decision and do what’s best for you. — Saquon Barkley
- It is selfish to concern oneself with tragedies. — Rose Kennedy
- Our true passions are selfish. — Stendhal
- Self-absorption kills empathy. — Daniel Goleman
- Selfishness can even inspire love. — Nathaniel Hawthorne
- With fools, there is no companionship. Walk alone. — Buddha
- You will think me cruel, very selfish… — Sheridan Le Fanu
- It is selfish to push your needs while ignoring others. — Unknown
- Selfishness, not love, is the activating intention of the gallant. — Unknown
👥Quotes About Selfish People
Best Pick: A selfish man is a thief. — José Martí
- Self-centered people have only one topic — themselves. — Stef Harder
- Selfishness may result in a sense of superiority, but life will deny them. — Eraldo Banovac
- Selfishness keeps many blind through life. — Unknown
- Relationships aren’t designed for selfish individuals. — Unknown
- The poison of selfishness destroys the world. — Catherine of Siena
- Those who seek their own ends at the expense of others are truly ignorant. — Ralph Waldo Trine
- Selfish people are far less likely to be happy than those making others happy. — Bernard Rimland
- There is more selfishness and less principle among leaders than we imagine. — James K. Polk
- Men err from selfishness; women because they are weak. — Madame de Staël
- The real evil is the selfish, turbulent character of people. — Charles Trevelyan
- Selfish people drain others emotionally. — Unknown
- Greed grows from selfishness. — Unknown
- Selfishness turns friends into strangers. — Unknown
🌱Quotes About When Being Selfish Is Okay
Best Pick: Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. — Eleanor Brown
- Sometimes you have to be selfish and choose peace. — Saquon Barkley
- It’s good to be selfish — just don’t be self-centered. — Hugh Hefner
- You cannot pour from an empty cup. — Suze Orman
- Live your life as you see fit. That’s not selfish. — Anthony de Mello
- Taking time for yourself isn’t greed — it’s growth. — Unknown
- A red rose isn’t selfish for being red. — Oscar Wilde
- True love is never selfish. — Sarah Chauncey Woolsey
- Some decisions look selfish but save your soul. — Unknown
- Sometimes saying “no” is an act of love. — Unknown
- To rest is not selfish, it’s strength. — Unknown
- Be kind to yourself — that’s not selfish. — Unknown
- Law keeps the selfish in line. — Herbert Spencer
- Self-focus can lead to self-growth. — Unknown
💞Selfishness vs. Self-Love or Generosity
Best Pick: Live your life as you see fit. Selfish is to demand that others live it your way. — Anthony de Mello
- Selfishness is gain at others’ loss. — Randy Alcorn
- You can’t give from an empty heart. — Eleanor Brown
- The fine line between love and selfishness is giving when you could take. — Unknown
- Real love gives, selfishness takes. — Unknown
- Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s strength. — Unknown
- True character balances selfishness and altruism. — Alan Dershowitz
- Selfishness breaks unity, generosity builds it. — Lyndon B. Johnson
- The selfish demand attention; the loving give it. — Unknown
- Our true passions can be selfish — if not guided by kindness. — Stendhal
- Greed is selfishness disguised as ambition. — Unknown
- Generosity is love’s proof. — Unknown
- The less selfish you are, the freer you become. — Unknown
- Sharing heals selfish hearts. — Unknown
❤️Quotes About Selfishness in Relationships
Best Pick: If my love is without sacrifice, it is selfish. — Sadhu Vaswani
- Love that only takes is not love at all. — Unknown
- Love is always selfish, the more ardent, the more selfish. — Sheridan Le Fanu
- Selfish partners drain the soul. — Unknown
- Selfishness destroys friendships. — Unknown
- A selfish heart cannot truly love. — Unknown
- Some relationships fail because one person only thinks “me.” — Unknown
- It’s not love if only one person grows. — Unknown
- The selfish forget that love is a team effort. — Unknown
- If you love just to be loved, it’s selfish. — Unknown
- True love gives, selfish love demands. — Unknown
- Selfish people use affection as control. — Unknown
- Real love is sacrifice, not possession. — Unknown
- A selfish man is a thief, even in love. — José Martí
🔍Quotes to Reflect on Your Own Selfishness
Best Pick: Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish. — Richard Dawkins
- Learning not to be selfish changed my life. — Blake Shelton
- The difference between a hero and a villain is selfishness. — Chadwick Boseman
- I am simple, complex, generous, selfish, lazy, and driven. — Barbra Streisand
- We lose unity when selfishness rules. — Lyndon B. Johnson
- Selfish people can’t truly love themselves. — Erich Fromm
- Our passions are selfish until we guide them. — Stendhal
- Humans are selfish but can rise above it. — Kristin Armstrong
- Selfishness hides behind masks of kindness. — Unknown
- Sorry is selfish when it comes too late. — Douglas Horton
- To be great, be selfish first, then share greatness. — Michael Jordan
- Evil often starts with selfish intent. — Charles Trevelyan
- The world is not fair, and the selfish hide in high places. — Bryant H. McGill
- Change begins when you face your own selfishness. — Unknown
✨ Conclusion
You’ve just explored 91 quotes about selfishness — across emotions, people, relationships, and even self-reflection.
Each section includes a Best Pick to make it easier to remember and share.
Whether you’re trying to describe someone’s selfish act or reflect on your own behavior, this list gives you the words and wisdom you were searching for.
