self love (selfluv)

That instinct by virtue of which man's actions are directed to the promotion of his own welfare. Properly speaking, it is not a kind of love; since A is said to love B when B's gratification affords gratification to A. In this sense, love of self would be a meaningle phrase. Selfe - loue is better than any guilding to make that see me gorgio us wherein our selues are parties. Sir P. Sidney, Apol. for Poetrie. Self - love is, in almost all men, such an overweight that they are incredulous of a man's habitual preference of the general good to his own; but when they see it proved by sacrifices of ease, wealth, rank, and of life itself, there is no limit to their admiration. Emerson, Courage. Self - love is not despicable, but laudable, since duties to self, if self-perfecting-as true duties to self are-must needs be duties to others. Maudsley, Body and Will, p. 166. Self-love, as understood by Butler and other English moralists after him, is.. an impulse towards pleasure generally, however obtained. H. Sidgwick, Methods of Ethics, p. 77. We see no reason to suppose that self - love is primarily or secondarily or ever love for one's mere principle of conscious identity. It is always love for something which, as compared with that principle, is superficial, transient, liable to be taken up or dropped at will. ing by inherent power without extraneous influence.