Top 10 Best Social Opinion Essays on Selfishness

Human beings are the most complex entities in the universe, not just one-dimensional but a combination of many opposing aspects. We not only possess the good traits of angels but also the dark side of demons. One of humanity's darker traits is selfishness.

If 'altruism' is about living, thinking, and sacrificing for others without expecting personal gain, the opposite of altruism is selfishness—only caring about one's own needs first, without sharing or helping others, often driven by self-serving motives. This is a vice that society condemns. However, we cannot deny that selfishness exists in everyone to some degree, as it is part of human nature, representing the 'animal' side of us.

In everyday life, it's easy to encounter actions driven by selfishness. A simple example is dividing a cake or a pack of candy where people consider their personal interests first. The cake or candy symbolizes the benefit one gains. Greedy people focus solely on benefiting themselves, making sure their piece of the pie gets bigger and bigger. In group work, some people try to push their responsibilities onto others while still enjoying the rewards, as if saying 'sit back and enjoy the gold bowl.' When something goes wrong, they avoid accountability. Others complain constantly about their lives without considering those who are far worse off, spending large amounts on luxury goods while failing to spare even a coin for the beggars. All these behaviors stem from selfishness—careless of others.

Selfishness is like a venomous snake that slowly poisons our hearts and destroys it bit by bit. This vice leads to indifference, a disease even more terrifying than cancer in society. You will only feel your own pain, enjoy your own happiness, without listening to or empathizing with others. Selfishness causes disputes, broken relationships, and even tragic consequences.

Although it is a vice to be eradicated, eliminating selfishness is a long journey requiring patience and constant effort. Children need to be educated properly from an early age. Love and altruism are the most effective medicine to kill the selfish snake. Let love and sacrifice spread from family, friends, and teachers to include the lives of less fortunate people. After each selfish act, take time to reflect carefully and learn from it.

Despite this, we should not be pessimistic about life, thinking it is full of wickedness and cruelty. Life is still a beautiful gift waiting to be explored. Selfish people are merely 'the fly in the ointment.' Many kind-hearted and altruistic people surround us.

Selfishness is a vice that should be condemned and eliminated so that we can live up to the title of 'HUMAN.' The battle between good and evil, kindness and cruelty, is relentless, and the 'human' side must prevail to lead us towards perfection.

Selfishness is the act of putting one's own interests first, disregarding the welfare of others. It is a negative trait where a person places their needs above everyone else, leading to feelings of envy and hostility towards others. A selfish person focuses solely on what benefits them and often displays an indifferent attitude towards the lives of those around them, living a narrow and self-centered existence. They consider their own interests the core of all value.

In the fast-paced flow of life, society continues to evolve, unveiling a hidden reality behind the beautiful facade of weak, unprincipled individuals who cannot resist the temptation of their own desires. This is where the powerful virus of selfishness thrives. It becomes visible when we recognize toxic behavior—people selling harmful food for quick profit, with no regard for the health of consumers. It also appears when one feels jealousy and looks down upon others' success. Ultimately, selfishness is pervasive, damaging the social fabric and pushing back the progress of civilization.

Selfishness is the root cause of many societal issues. It erodes character and corrupts the human spirit. Each of us faces a psychological battle between personal gain and collective good. When we choose the path that prioritizes our own interests above all else, the 'animal' within us rises, leading us down a path of corruption and injustice. We may lose our integrity, trampling on the achievements of others for our own benefit, or allow envy to blind our eyes, becoming those who avoid responsibility and burden others.

Moreover, selfishness destroys love and compassion. We cannot live by simply receiving the affection and care of others as a given. Just like any relationship, it cannot last without effort from both parties. Would someone who only cares about themselves be deserving of true, genuine love? Ultimately, placing personal gain above all else comes with a painful cost: the loss of those we care about, the trust of others, and even our own humanity.

Selfishness is not an inherent trait; it is a disease that easily infiltrates individuals who lack principles, determination, and kindness. It quickly takes root and erodes the spirit. Before entering society, each of us must equip ourselves with the necessary skills to distinguish between right and wrong, enabling us to stand firm in the face of selfish temptations and contribute to a better world. We live in a society full of hope, where a girl named Hải An gave up her sight to help others, or where Vietnam's heroes sacrificed their lives to protect the country. Yet, some still remain unaware, trapped in the selfish disease that diminishes the beauty of human values. Nevertheless, we must strike a balance—maintain a bit of selfishness but avoid being exploited by others.

Live like the sun, shining warmth and light for all. Live like a flower, giving fragrance and beauty to the world. Only then can we shed the 'animal' within and move closer to being truly human.

Each of us is respected and regarded as a unique individual, with our own "self". However, when this "self" is excessively elevated, it transforms into an undesirable trait—selfishness.

"Selfishness" originates from the letter "I"—in English, it represents "myself". The term "Kỷ" refers to the individual, the "self", while "Ích" signifies "benefit". When a person only thinks of their own interests, disregarding the welfare of others, and even willing to harm the collective good for personal gain, they become selfish and narrow-minded.

Selfishness exists in all forms and actions, starting with the smallest. At first, it may manifest in simply caring about one's own benefit. For example, a child with many candies but unwilling to share with friends, or a person who calculates whether helping a friend will bring them a personal gain. Starting with such calculations, it grows into comparisons of who benefits more. At its peak, selfishness can lead a person to disregard rules, compassion, and the well-being of others and society just to satisfy personal desires.

Notably, it may arise from individuals relying on tricks or manipulations rather than their own abilities. Many high-ranking officials today, including CEOs, are arrested for corruption—this is not a rare occurrence. Extending further, selfishness may even lie within ourselves, in how we treat nature. Mo Yan, a prominent Chinese writer, remarked: "I feel humanity is facing its greatest danger, the combination of advancing technology and the growing ambitions of humans. With desires fueled by greed, technological progress has deviated from its original purpose of serving human health and instead, driven by profit, it responds to the sick desires of a few rich people." Humanity is recklessly exploiting the Earth: we harm rivers, devastate fields, drill countless holes into the Earth, use steel and cement to create monstrous buildings which we call "cities", where we indulge our desires and produce waste that will never decompose. This is selfishness that serves individual interests, ignoring the cries of Mother Nature.

Looking at the signs of selfishness, we can already see its destructive impact. An inflated sense of self isolates a person from others, making it impossible to connect with the outside world. Each individual is part of nature, a piece of the community. No one can live alone on this planet. Thus, they are self-destructive. Worse, they infect others and the community. When selfish people receive good results from doing wrong, it becomes a dangerous virus that encourages others to follow. One selfish person can become two, three, and eventually a whole society of selfish individuals, leading to its decay. Moreover, human selfishness causes nature to suffer. Destroying the environment is like destroying ourselves. Selfishness originates from the small "I" but brings death to many lives.

This selfishness arises from the primal and natural "self" of humans, but when left unchecked and unaltered, it grows. It envelops positive emotions and feelings, letting greed escape, which then leads to calculating and cruel actions without considering the consequences. The ease of imitation and the chaotic nature of modern society provide the perfect breeding ground for these "pests" to ruin everything.

The Earth is burning, shaking, the seas are crying, dust flies everywhere, droughts and floods occur, and diseases spread—these are all linked to the unhealthy development of technology fueled by the greed of developed nations, and to human selfishness. It's time we tell everyone, especially the wealthy who use unscrupulous methods to gain wealth and power, that they are guilty, and the divine will not protect them. We must tell politicians who care for their vanity that national interests are not the highest priority, but the true noble pursuit is the long-term benefit of all humanity. We must understand that we are all in the same boat; if it sinks, whether we are dressed in luxury or humble clothes, the end will be the same. Thus, we need to start by training ourselves to limit and control the growing "self" within us: learning to listen, acknowledge, love, share, and be conscious of ourselves.

However, not being selfish doesn't mean erasing our self-identity, becoming weak, or not standing up for our rights. "One should not have an inflated self" but should never lose their true self.

To live with dignity and feel proud to be human, we must strive relentlessly through life’s challenges. This journey requires strength, a compassionate heart, and the critical ability to eliminate the poison of selfishness that lurks in our souls. Get rid of it now if you don't want to become someone who lives only for themselves.

Selfishness is the pursuit of personal gain above all else, an attitude of thinking only about one’s own interests, focusing solely on personal benefits while ignoring the needs of others. Of course, no one is perfect, but instead of blaming life or society, we should aim to better ourselves. Selfishness is like a venomous snake that silently slinks into our hearts, and once we let our guard down, it will take over and control us.

Everyone has the instinct to secure personal benefits, to think of themselves when making decisions, but this leads to selfishness. Selfishness arises when desires become greed, when individuals stop thinking of the collective good, and when ego overpowers the common good. It traps us in a cycle of personal gain and selfish motives, causing us to lose ourselves in the swirl of conflict and hatred. Selfishness breeds jealousy, and when we see others surpass us in success or happiness, we seek to defeat them by any means necessary. This brings turmoil and never-ending stress, as we are controlled by our own pride. An inflated ego leads us to lose our place in the broader community. Over time, we lose our humanity and noble spirit, falling into the abyss of sin, rage, and competition. This is why people often decline morally, becoming corrupted by their own selfish desires, chasing after fleeting values that erase the essence of what makes us human.

Look at those who are constantly wrapped up in the cycle of fame and power, battling each other with envy and competition. They are rejected by society because true harmony can only be achieved when individuals learn to balance contribution with enjoyment. Selfishness is merely a form of wanting to take without giving. If everyone lived with selfishness and a bloated ego, where would society go? What foundation would remain to hold us together? Someone who only cares about themselves will eventually be pushed aside, rejected by society because of their excessive ambitions and desires.

However, to live selflessly, to give and sacrifice without clinging to fleeting pleasures, one must have great character. A true person is one who sacrifices for the greater good, understanding that they are not the center of the world. One must comprehend their role in the community and avoid greed or stubbornness. This is the path that opens the door to love and compassion in one’s heart.

What could be more noble and honorable than living selflessly and contributing without expectation? We are not always the center of everything; we must cherish ourselves, but that does not justify living selfishly. Imagine a world full of love, where selfishness becomes a stagnant pool of nothingness.

Life is a journey of personal improvement, with each day offering valuable lessons. This process involves shedding negative traits and nurturing positive ones, no matter how small. A lesson I’ve learned from the program "Saturday Afternoon Culture" and the life skills club this week is about "SELFISHNESS" in every person.

The ancient saying goes: “If a person is not selfish, the heavens and earth will perish.” The idea behind this statement is that everything we do is for our own benefit. What’s your opinion on this? Please keep thinking while we sit together in a lively discussion. Life itself is precious, and our own life is the most precious. If we don’t value and love ourselves, how can we possibly value and love anyone else (be it others, our country, or humanity)?

There’s a story where a king tested Lao Tzu by offering half of his kingdom in exchange for a single strand of hair, but Lao Tzu refused. He said, "Even a single strand of hair is part of my blood and flesh. If I don’t care about it, then why should I even live?" Everyone has different perspectives, but we can all agree that every person acts in their own self-interest. And this self-interest is both material and emotional.

So, it can be argued that living and acting for one's benefit is RIGHT. Now, let's examine the definition of "SELFISHNESS". Selfishness means doing things that benefit oneself, but does that make it wrong? It's surprising to realize that many people think selfishness is bad, yet, by this reasoning, it seems justified.

Let’s pause and explore a different angle. If we look at actions that benefit oneself, they can be classified into three types: benefiting oneself at the expense of others (actions usually forbidden by laws), benefiting both oneself and others (encouraged), and benefiting oneself without benefiting others. So, could "SELFISHNESS" be about actions that benefit oneself but not others?

Consider when you are called selfish. For example, during an exam, you didn’t share your answers with your classmate, and as a result, they failed. The classmate accuses you of selfishness because you didn’t help them avoid a poor grade.

In a romantic relationship, a man may want his partner to be exclusively his, gradually isolating her from her friends and family, limiting her social life. Would you say this man is selfish for restricting her freedom? On the other hand, if the man is too lenient and indifferent to his partner’s relationships, could the relationship last?

You may be labeled as "SELFISH" if you fail to meet others’ desires. In other words, people expect you to fulfill their needs. If you don’t, you’ll be called selfish. A possible solution could be that you’re either someone who can meet everyone’s wishes, or you’re of no use to them, so they have no expectations from you.

"Whoever calls you selfish is the selfish one." So, if "SELFISHNESS" is justified, how can there be enough benefits to satisfy everyone’s needs in the world? The answer is simple: there isn’t enough. Let’s continue analyzing another aspect of this topic.

Human progress has always been tied to the development of production methods. In ancient times, people worked together to hunt and gather, ensuring a greater harvest. This method has since evolved and specialized. For example, in garment production, there are various stages like cutting fabric, sewing arms, adding pockets, and so on, until a complete garment is made. Imagine if one of these stages was missing—would the garment exist?

Thus, helping others and providing benefits to them results in greater collective benefits for all. From all the analysis and examples, we can conclude: "Living for one’s benefit is right, but without helping others (benefiting others), one will not receive help in return, leading to isolation from the group —> harmful —> contrary to the initial rule —> helping others brings benefits to oneself too."

So, if someone accuses you of being selfish, what should you do? Don’t worry, just evaluate if you can help others within your ability.

Every person is born with both admirable qualities and flaws. One of the most negative traits is selfishness.

Selfishness is the tendency to focus solely on one's own needs and desires, without consideration for others. A selfish person is someone who always seeks to benefit themselves, striving to claim the best for themselves. They rarely, if ever, think about others or make sacrifices, no matter how small.

In fact, selfish individuals often go to great lengths to achieve their goals, even if it means stepping on others or causing harm. Moreover, they are typically those who take but never give. They readily accept help or affection from others, yet hesitate to reciprocate, fearing they might lose something in the process.

In daily life, selfishness becomes apparent through one's actions and lifestyle. In the classroom, a selfish student is one who always wants to outshine others. They may refuse to help their classmates with studying or share valuable resources, fearing that someone might surpass them. In the workplace, a selfish employee takes on easy tasks while passing off the difficult ones to others. Worse still, some may even steal credit for others' achievements and evade responsibility when things go wrong. In society, selfish people don’t help their friends, family, or neighbors, yet are quick to accept assistance from them.

Selfishness is a despicable trait, as it leads individuals to become isolated, cut off from their communities. It’s fair to say that selfishness slowly destroys a person. When someone separates themselves from the collective, they effectively sever their chances for growth. Over time, selfish individuals retreat into their own shells. Eventually, they will fade away in their isolation, as they lose their friends and loved ones. Others will distance themselves and stop caring or helping them.

Tố Hữu once said, "Living is giving, not just taking." This is true: only when a person shares, helps, and loves others does life become meaningful. In return, they will receive help and kindness from others. However, if one clings to selfishness and lives solely for oneself, they will soon be rejected by society.

Goodwill is often demonstrated through simple acts like offering an umbrella to someone in the rain, giving a coat to protect from the cold, or sharing compassion with a soul in despair. Sadly, in today's society, such acts of kindness seem to be fading, replaced by selfishness that undermines values of generosity and goodwill.

Selfishness, by definition, is a disregard for others’ well-being, focusing only on one's own interests. A selfish person lives with a cold indifference, concerned solely with their own comfort and gain, without any regard for the people around them.

Although life is not a magical place where kindness and selflessness reign, the deterioration of moral values paints the world in grim shades. The selfishness and greed of people have contributed greatly to this decline. Many lament their loneliness and lack of attention, yet they do nothing to care for others. Selfishness creates a society of self-interest and cruelty, a world where empathy is in short supply.

We often hear promises from high-ranking officials that they serve the people, but once the curtain is pulled back, we see that they are merely fattening their own wallets, driven by greed and selfishness. These individuals trample on others’ needs, placing their own above all else, ignoring the suffering they may cause.

As selfishness grows, it becomes a toxic mindset, fueling resentment, jealousy, and the desire to see others fail. People abandon friendships and relationships for shallow gains, all in the name of selfishness. However, in the realm of love, selfishness can sometimes be accepted as a natural emotion—possessiveness in relationships, where love becomes an exclusive domain.

While we face many issues in life, one of the most urgent is eliminating selfishness from our hearts. We must train ourselves to be more aware of others, to observe and understand their feelings. We should let go of the rigid mindset that we can never accept losing or being disadvantaged. Instead, we should practice humility and learn to help others. It’s important to teach ourselves to be generous and selfless in our daily lives.

For as the saying goes, “When a person only lives for themselves, they become redundant to the rest.” We must condemn those who live in cold indifference—like the young man who saw an elderly woman fall but did nothing to help, afraid of being late for class. Society needs to find a cure for this societal illness of selfishness, ensuring that our lives can become brighter and more compassionate.

Life operates on rules that are hard to break, but we can be sure that when we recognize the true value of kindness, selfishness will disappear as if it were smoke.

Someone once said: "When science finally discovers the center of the universe, it will surprise many to learn that it is not themselves." Living with the belief that we are the center of the universe is essentially a form of selfishness.

What is selfishness? It is a way of living where one only thinks about themselves, constantly weighing personal gains, and only focuses on their own interests, indifferent to or even trampling on the happiness of others to achieve their own goals.

From small actions, selfishness manifests when you refuse to help a friend with their homework because you fear losing time or that they might surpass you in skills. It’s the jealousy and resentment you feel when your neighbor is more successful than you. On a larger scale, selfishness could be when you go to great lengths to avoid military service because you're afraid of difficulty, or when you steal a colleague's ideas to gain credit for yourself.

Selfishness is a negative lifestyle that anyone can easily fall into. As Ho Chi Minh once said, “Subjective illnesses, selfishness, and narrow-mindedness are the internal enemies. External enemies are not as frightening as those within, because they destroy from the inside out. We must guard against these internal enemies and cure them.” Selfishness makes a person narrow-minded and unable to rejoice in the happiness of others or empathize with their sorrow, always wanting to be superior to everyone else. Over time, such individuals isolate themselves and are eventually abandoned by their friends.

Selfishness also leads to apathy, because when someone places their own interests and desires above all else, they become indifferent to the lives of those around them. In a society where selfishness is rampant, it’s a dangerous trend. If everyone is only focused on their personal gain, teamwork will falter, and society will lack cohesion and progress. Isn't it true that some individuals, driven by selfishness and greed, embezzle billions from the government’s budget and trample on the livelihoods of ordinary people for their own benefit? With such individuals in society, the struggles of the people will persist, and we will never rise to be on par with the global community.

Chinese author Guo Xitong, in his novel “Where the Warmth is,” wrote: “Anyone who is not selfish is a saint, and saints do not exist in this world.” Indeed, we cannot deny that selfishness is a natural human emotion, but to coexist and prosper, we must learn to minimize it and work together to build a better future. As Hermann Hesse said, “Youth ends when selfishness ends; maturity begins when we live for others.”

Now is the time to observe and be mindful of the people around us, to remove our egos when necessary, to prioritize the collective good, and to actively engage in group activities that break down the walls we have built around ourselves. We should continuously improve ourselves by helping others as much as we can. Eradicating selfishness is not easy, but it is a worthwhile process! It is truly shameful for those who, driven by greed and vanity, neglect and trample on the rights of others. These individuals hinder the collective progress of society.

“People often make small mistakes, like realizing too late that the friend who was always by their side is no longer there. It is only when their hands are empty that they realize all that is left is endless greed and selfishness” (Tianxia Wubing). Let us not remain selfish, for one day we will regret it deeply.

Bailey once said: "When you are born, you cry while everyone around you laughs. Live your life in a way that when you pass, everyone will cry, and you will smile." Each of us is born unique, with different personalities, and it is essential to strive each day to improve ourselves and rid ourselves of the flaws we possess. One of the flaws we often struggle with is selfishness.

So, what exactly is selfishness? It is a negative attitude, one of indifference and apathy towards the situations around us, where the focus is entirely on oneself without any concern for others. Selfish individuals always place their personal interests above the well-being of others and the collective. Selfishness is a toxic way of living, not only diminishing one's own character but also negatively impacting society as a whole. As poet Tố Hữu once wrote, "Living is giving, not just taking for oneself."

The signs of selfishness in people are glaring. They live with closed hearts, avoiding hardship or responsibility, always calculating their gains and losses, only seeking benefits while avoiding work. Those who are solely focused on their own interests hide behind the walls they’ve built, which are hard to break through. They are secretive, rarely open up, and only act when it benefits them. For instance, in a classroom, when a classmate asks for help with a difficult problem you’ve already solved, you might avoid assisting them, fearing they might outperform you. Or when your whole class goes out for drinks after school, you might frown, calculating: "I’ve worked so hard, and yet they’re relaxing too. It’s not fair!"

Didn’t President Ho Chi Minh once say, “Labor is glory”? But do you think this way when selfishness clouds your mind, making you even more tired and frustrated? Someone who dreams of success and greatness but avoids hardship and deceitfully tries to achieve things will see their efforts crumble, much like a castle built on sand.

The consequences of selfishness are unpredictable and far-reaching. It drives people to think only of themselves, lost in their own desires, and caught up in a cycle of greed and resentment. Selfishness is like a desert wind, withering everything it touches—drying out the soul and the affection others have for you. Selfish individuals will never grow or establish themselves, and they will struggle to succeed in life because others will avoid them. They will not receive help or opportunities to advance, as one can only thrive within a community when they strike a balance between contribution and reward. The law of cause and effect is real: what you sow is what you reap. This is something you must understand to grow and improve each day.

People face many challenges in life, but the most urgent issue is to eliminate selfishness, to cast out the evil demon from our hearts. Life should be about love, care, and sharing, as each of us has a heart capable of empathy, beating in harmony with the community. We must learn to observe and be more considerate of those around us, change our extreme ways, and learn to humble ourselves. Most importantly, we must train ourselves and help others along the way.

Moreover, we should strongly condemn those who live in indifference, like a student who sees an elderly woman fall but refuses to help her, simply because they fear being late for class. Or those who only care for themselves and never make sacrifices for others. We need to choose an effective remedy for this plague of selfishness so that life becomes more beautiful.

What could be more noble and admirable than living selflessly and dedicating oneself to others? We are not always the center of the universe; while we must love and care for ourselves, it doesn’t mean we have the right to live selfishly. Life may not be long enough to fix all our mistakes, but it is long enough to let go of selfishness and start anew with a heart full of love and compassion.

At birth, every person is the same, starting from a blank slate, influenced entirely by the external world. Over time, depending on the environment, each individual develops unique characteristics, qualities, and flaws. Everyone strives to become a better version of themselves, eliminating the negative traits within them, and one such trait that everyone should avoid is selfishness.

So, what is selfishness? Selfishness can be understood as a negative lifestyle trait, where an individual only considers their own needs and interests, constantly calculating how to benefit themselves without considering others. A selfish person not only disregards others’ interests but is also willing to trample over others to claim what they desire. Selfishness often manifests in everyday actions, even in the smallest things. For example, a selfish person may ignore the needs of their family members and demand that everyone follow their own wishes. In school, they may refuse to help their classmates with their assignments, afraid of being outperformed.

A selfish person is only concerned with receiving help from others, but never offering help themselves, because they are afraid of the inconvenience or trouble it might cause. At work, their competitive nature reveals their selfishness as they try to avoid difficult tasks, pass responsibilities to others, and steal credit for others' efforts, all in the name of personal gain. In social relationships, a selfish person is envious and resentful of others’ success, always focused on their own benefit. For instance, if they witness an accident and no one is helping, they may not intervene because they fear being late or inconvenienced. Selfish people often isolate themselves, as they do not care about those around them. This is a negative way of living, often referred to as the disease of selfishness.

This condition is very harmful and alarming, as selfishness is easy to develop. It turns individuals into bitter, narrow-minded people, gradually isolating themselves from others. Living with selfishness eventually leads to loneliness, as they become disliked and shunned by those around them. When they refuse to empathize, share, or help others, one day they will become victims of the indifference they created. Doctors may disregard patients' lives for money, and corrupt officials may steal from the public, all for their personal benefit. A selfish society is one that deteriorates morally and lacks humanity. In such a society, love and compassion are absent, and there is no unity or growth. A society made up entirely of selfish individuals cannot exist or thrive, as it goes against the progress of the world.

Living selfishly is a negative lifestyle that severely damages one's character, interpersonal relationships, and societal development. Therefore, we must collectively combat this selfishness, and each person should strive to be more open, ready to help others, and practice empathy for those around them.