Definitions HQ

Self-interest (n.) never ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠produced anything great or noble; only the pure love of what is just and sublime can make the heart soar.

Self-interest (n.) warps ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠judgment: to those always occupied with their own concerns, anything that touches their advantage ever so little seems an upheaval of the universe.

Self-interest (n.) explains ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠only the deeds of the wicked: does a man go to death from self-interest? A philosophy with no room for good deeds must slander Socrates and Regulus.

Self-interest (n.) works ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠imperceptibly: a loving father who drew the income on his son's inheritance stopped just short of the town where the boy would have been found.

Self-interest (n.) grows ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠in inverse ratio to duty: the narrower the association and the less sacred the engagement, the stronger it gets — which proves the most general will is the most just, and the voice of the people the voice of God.