self interest (self interest)

1. Private interest; the interest or advantage of one's self, without regard to altruistic gratification.-2. Selfishne ; pursuit of egotistical interests exclusively, without regard to conscience. From mean self - interest and ambition clear. Cowper , Expostulation, 1. 439. self-interested (self-in'tér-es-ted), a . Having self-interest; particularly concerned for one's self; selfish. Add is on , Freeholder, No. 7. self-involution (self-in-vo-lū'shon), n. Involution in one's self; hence, mental abstraction; reverie. Her a clit us, as well as psychologists of recent times, seemed to appreciate the dangers of self - involution. Amer . Jour . Psychol ., I. 630. self-involved (self-in-volvd'), a. Wrapped up in one's self or in one's thoughts. The pensive mind Which, all too dearly self -involved, Yet sleeps a dreamle sleep to me. Tennyson, Day-Dream, L'Envoi. selfish (sel'fish), a. [=G. selbstisch = Sw. sjelfv isk = Dan. selvisk ; as self + -ish1 .] 1. Caring only for self; influenced solely or chiefly by motives of personal or private pleasure or advantage: as, a selfish person. What could the most aspiring or the most selfish man desire more, were he to form the notion of a being to whom he would recommend himself, than such a knowledge as can discover the least appearance of perfection in him? IMG:content-0547.png:[blocks in formation] The extinction of all selfish feeling is impo ible for an individual, and if it were general it would result in the di olution of society. Lecky, Europ. Morals, I. 103. Selfish theory of morals, the theory that man is capa ble of acting only from calculation of what will give him the greatest pleasure. =Syn. Mean, illiberal, self-seeking. selfishly (sel'fish-li), adv. In a selfish manner; with regard to private interest only or chiefly. Who can your merit selfishly approve, And show the sense of it without the love. Pope , Prol. to Satires, 1. 293. selfishne (sel'fish-nes), n. Selfish character, disposition, or conduct; exclusive or chief regard for one's own interest or happine .=Syn. Selfishne , Self -love. See the quotations. Not only is the phrase self - love used as synonymous with the desire of happine , but it is often confounded. with the word selfishne , which certainly, in strict propri ety, denotes a very different disposition of mind. D. Stewart , Philos. of Active and Moral Powers, ii. 1. The mention of Selfishne leads me to remind you not to confound that with Self - love , which is quite a different thing. Self - love is.. a rational, deliberate desire for our own welfare, and for anything we consider likely to promote it. Selfishne , on the other hand, consists not in the indulging of this or that particular propensity, but in disregarding, for the sake of any kind of personal gratification or advantage, the rights or the feelings of other Whately, Morals and Chr. Evidences, xvi. § 3. selfism (sel'fizm), n. [ self + -ism .] Devotedne to self; selfishne . [Rare.] men. The proud Roman nobility had selected a self - made law. yer as their representative. Froude , Cæsar, p. 136. self-mastery (self-mas'ter-i), n. Mastery of one's self; self-command; self-control. self-mettlet (self-met'l), n. One's own fiery temper or mettle; inherent courage. Anger is like A full-hot horse, who being allow'd his way, Self- mettle tires him. Shak., Hen. VIII., i. 1. 134.