The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-20
SELFLOVE AND SELFISHNESS.


There are no two qualities which are
more commonly identified, and none
which are more perfectly distinct than
self-love and selfshness. Seflove is a
right regard for ones self; selfishness
is wrong regard for ones self. The
difference between the two is thus the
broad and irreeoncilable difference be-
tween. right and wrong.
Love" is by no means an easy word
to define. In fact, in any attempt to
explain just what love is we find 1t diff
ficult to choose any terms which are
more simple or clear than the word
love" itself; but it is az easy to tell
some things which true love always
does as il is ditiicIlt to frame an alb
stract definition. Love always aims and
strives to benefit It's object. to promote
the real interests OF the one loved or
course II may err in its effort. Ii may
be directed by weak sentiment rather
than by sound judgment. and thus
fsll to promote the true good of Its
object. The love of many parents for
their children often fails to promote
their real interests because it is thought
to be the part Of love to crafty the
child's every wish, and to free him
from all restraints. In such cases love
is mere easy going good-nature, and
is deficient from lack of the qualities
of sober judgment and good sense.
But in proportion as love is intelligent
and well directed; in proportion as tits a
complete love. 1t aims and strives to
promote the highest interests of those
toward whom it is directed.
Thus love has standard and meas
ure. 1t is true and perfect in the de-
gree in which it Is guided by right es-
innate Of the ends and meaning of life.
To know that in which the true good
OF the soul consists, and to strive for its
attainment in ourselves and others, is
the condition of the exercise Of the no.
blest love. How widely different in
its scope and spirit will be the love OF
the two fathers, one Of whom considers
a life Of luxury, ease and amusement
as the most desirable one for his child,
and the other OF whom conceiyes Of a
thorough education. training in self
help and career Of useful employ
mont, as the end to be sought Love
may be very genuine in both cases, con-
sidered as a sentiment; but it is far less
noble and complete in the former than IN
the latter, because il is measured by a
lower standard, keyed to less worthy
motive and directed to an inferior end.
Self-loye may differ in the same de-
grees as love to others and may be meas
ured by the same varying standards. II
measured by the lower standards, it APP
proaches close to selfishness. and it is
perhaps due to this way Of thinking Of
self-love that the confusion of the two
terms has arisen. But in proportion as
self-loye falls to seeking the minor and
trivial interests Of men, in that proper
ton does it become unworthy to be-
called love; and when the regard for
self sinks 50 low as to aim at ends con-
trary to the true interests Of life, the
term "sef-love" ceases to apply:
the plane Of selfishuess is
reached. Thus seiflove, in the proper
sense of the term, is regard for
ones true interests and an effort to
promote them, and it rises in dignity
and nobleness according as the interests
sought are high and important. 1t at
tains lis greatest scope aud purest spirit
only when it aims su lremely at the de-
velopment of the soul in spiritual cul-
ture, The enlargement Of all the powers
to the utmost limit o. their activity for
usefulness and service, the conformity
Of the life. in its motives. spirit and pur-
poses TO the divine ideal revealed in Jesus
Christ. Hence. trust in him ami love
for him are seen TO be what the New
Testament asserts them to be, the high
est requirement of duty, because they
are the test and measure of all love
and all goodness.
With what different motives and
spirit are men doing the same tasks al
around us. After all, it is the ends
which they have in view which makes
the greatest difference in the lives Of
men. Two men make money side by
side at the same counter. What differ
ent things that money making means to
them, To one it means selfishness; to
the other, love self-love. 10 doubt, but
also love to others, for self-loye never
goes alone. Self-love, from its very
nature, involves and leads to love for
others, since we soon find that we can
not seek and promote our true we'll
being in isolation from others. Selfish
ness is the principle of isolation; love
is the principle OF society. It's motto is,
1--WE are members one of another
Here is a radical difference between
these two qualities. Selfshness beit
ties Ifs and narrows the world by max
ing the individual the measure of all
things; self-love enobles life by max
ing the individual part of great So
cal order, having mutual rights and
duties, and bound together by common
interests. Thus seldshness drags the
world down TO its own little measure,
while self-love lifts the individual up
upon the plane of universal human in
terests, and becomes the inspiration TO
doing unto others as we should with
others 10 do unto US. And all love,
whether to self or to others, has its
source and spring in our moral kinship