Selfishness

The thoroughly selfish man aims at obtaining as much happiness as he can for himself and does not care whether other people are happy. In order to attain this object, he tries to appropriate as large a share as possible of the good things of this world. Whenever he has an opportunity of doing so he enjoys himself, even when his enjoyment is obtained at the expense of his fellow-men.

Human beings are so constituted by nature that they cannot enjoy happiness worthy of the name without being in sympathy with their fellow-men. Therefore, the best way to be happy is to make others happy. What Shakespeare says of mercy is equally true of other forms of benevolence. Every kind act is twice blessed, and blesses alike him that gives and him that takes.

Of the first and more important part of this double blessing, the selfish man is entirely deprived by his ruling passion. He is also in many cases deprived of the lesser blessing of receiving kindness and assistance from his fellow-men. He may occasionally gain advantages from those who cannot avoid coming into contact with him and fear to provoke his resentment. But such advantages being conferred without goodwill, add little to his happiness, and all, who can do so, will be inclined to avoid his society, and will prefer to shown kindness to others, who being sympathetic and benevolent themselves seem to deserve kindness in return.

SAMIA MALIK

Lahore