"The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest"
- Francois de La Rochefoucauld
About this Quote
This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld recommends that all of our actions, whether they be virtuous or vices, are driven by our own self-interest. This indicates that we are all motivated by our own desires and ambitions, which our decisions are based on what our company believe will benefit us the most. This concept is in line with the concept of utilitarianism, which specifies that the very best action is the one that produces the best amount of great for the best variety of individuals. In other words, we are all driven by our own interests, and our decisions are based upon what our company believe will bring us the most benefit. This quote likewise implies that our actions are not necessarily driven by morality or ethics, but rather by our own self-interest. This suggests that we must be mindful of our own motivations and interests when making choices, which we must make every effort to make decisions that are helpful to the best number of individuals.
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