The very heart and root of sin is in an independent spirit. We erect the idol self; and not only wish others to worship, but worship ourselves.
We can neither change nor overpower God's eternal suffrage against selfishness and meanness.
Deliver me, O Lord, from that evil man, myself.
The selfish man cuts away the sand from under his own feet, he digs his own grave; and every time, from the beginning of the world until now, God Almighty pushes him into the grave and covers him up.
Alas! how many souls there are full of self, and yet desirous of doing good and serving God, but in such a way as to suit themselves; who desire to impose rules upon God as to His manner of drawing them to Himself. They want to serve and possess Him, but they are not willing to be possessed by Him.
—Fenelon.
It is self-love and its offspring self-deception, which shut the gates of heaven, and lead men, as if in a delicious dream, to hell.
Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.
Selfishness is the making a man's self his own centre, the beginning and end of all he doeth.
