Definitions HQ

Self-love (n.) cannot ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠explain why we praise a noble deed done two thousand years ago, or one done by an enemy against our own interest.

Self-love (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠so pervasive, and private interest so tangled with the public, that philosophers who reduced all morality to it were excusable — merely wrong.

Self-love (n.) in ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠avarice, ambition and vanity is excluded from the origin of morals not because it is too weak but because it points in the wrong direction: it is not shared.

Self-love (n.) makes ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠no difference even if it is the root of everything: I still esteem the man whose self-love happens to be turned toward others, and despise the one whose is not.

Self-love (n.) cannot ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠come first: if I have no vanity, praise gives me no delight; if no ambition, power no enjoyment; without original appetites, self-love would have almost nothing to pursue.

Self-love (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠displays itself in kindness deserves no fear: be one of these selfish men, and everyone's self-love will incline them to serve you.