„The martyr sacrifices herself (himself in a few instances) entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for she (or he) makes the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower.“

— Florence Nightingale

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„How narrow we selfish conceited creatures are in our sympathies! How blind to the rights of all the rest of creation!“
— John Muir
„Everyone thinks I'm showing off when I talk, ridiculous when I'm silent, insolent when I answer, cunning when I have a good idea, lazy when I'm tired, selfish when I eat one bite more than I should.“
— Anne Frank
„Selfish, adj. Devoid of consideration for the selfishness of others.“
— Ambrose Bierce