O2B1F3E.7 SELFLESSNESS - 2006

MOMENTS IN OUR LIFE-2  2026-11-05

O2B1F3E.7 SELFLESSNESS - 2006

Introduction

(Gemini) In this profound and introspective chapter of your life story, you explore the essence of selflessness (altruism) and how it has manifested throughout human history, philosophy, and economics. Drawing on your own personal memories from childhood, your collection of valuable linguistic resources, and the legacy of pioneers such as Henry David Thoreau, Mother Teresa, and Emily Hobhouse, you paint a poignant picture of what it truly means to live for others. Your reflection offers a timeless perspective on empathy, set against a world often driven by selfishness and the instinct for survival.

(Hennie) Because I want to write as much as possible, I bought a thick “Pharos Tesourus van Afrikaans” at Exclusive Books earlier this year, which was on special offer. This was later followed by an Oxford “Dictionary & Thesaurus” that I had to specifically request. When Marinus came to visit, he bought me a substantial “HAT – Handboek van die Afrikaanse Taal” from Bikini Beach Books in Gordon’s Bay—a place where books are stacked against every wall—and, a while later, also the famous “Tweetalige Woordeboek” by Bosman, van der Merwe, and Hiemstra. Now, I literally have a resource for any word or synonym I might be looking for.

Selflessness (or altruism) means caring for the well-being of others without thinking of yourself or expecting anything in return.

Definition: Setting aside your own interests to help or support others.

Synonyms: Unselfish, altruistic.

Without wishing to blow my own trumpet, I have identified with this principle throughout my entire life—it has become a way of life. Looking back to the earliest stirrings of my consciousness, I recall an instance—as far back as I can remember—when I fetched a jar of preserved peaches from a pantry shelf for my sick elder brother.

I also clearly remember a day when my brother—who is five years my junior—and I were visiting relatives with our parents. Their bully of a son wanted to hit my brother, but I made sure to stay between them, until the bully, out of sheer frustration, ended up punching me in the stomach. On another occasion, when I was a prefect in my final year of school, the class bully wanted to hit a frail, small Jewish boy. Once again, I intervened and protected the poor lad.

Quite recently, I wrote about Henry David Thoreau. Like many other books, his work is waiting to be read. It is one of the very few books I brought along when we had to move from Wellington to this small apartment—a move regarding which I often told Rinie, "My dear, there simply isn't any room!" Thoreau’s writings comprise a massive 47-volume handwritten journal, totaling more than 2 million words. When I lost my way in 2006, I compiled, among other things, a long list of thoughts I wanted to write about later. One of these was: “Thoreau says everything is simple – and it is.” I identify completely with his outlook on life. It has always resonated with me.

Transcendentalist Movement

This was an influential philosophical, literary, and spiritual movement that emerged in New England (in the eastern United States) during the late 1820s and 1830s.

Core Principles

Individualism and self-reliance: They believed in the inherent goodness of humanity and nature, and that social institutions, organized religion, and politics often corrupt the individual.

Intuition over reason: Truth and spiritual insight are not attained through traditional dogma or mere reason, but through personal intuition and a direct connection with nature.

The "Oversoul": They believed in a universal spiritual force in which all people and nature are united.

Influences

The movement was a reaction against the cold rationalism of the Enlightenment and the traditional dogma of the Unitarian Church. It was inspired by:

European Romanticism (German idealism and Immanuel Kant)

Eastern philosophy and texts from Hinduism

The ideas of writers and mystics such as Emanuel Swedenborg

Key Figures

Ralph Waldo Emerson: The central figure who formulated ideas in essays such as “Nature” (1836) and “Self-Reliance”.

Henry David Thoreau: Known for his experiment in simple living at Walden Pond (“Walden” 1854) and his advocacy for civil resistance (“Civil Disobedience”).

Margaret Fuller: Journalist, critic, and pioneer for women’s rights who co-founded the magazine “The Dial” with Emerson.

Amos Bronson Alcott: Writer and educator.

Legacy

The movement played a major role in the development of a unique American literature (the so-called American Renaissance) and profoundly influenced later social reform movements, such as the struggle against slavery and the fight for women’s rights.

I have always had a contemplative nature—in my first Sub A report card in 1949, Miss Rademeyer wrote, “Hennie is too serious.” Furthermore, from my earliest recollections, I have always supported the “underdogs” of life. I do not know why—perhaps it is in my genes; likely, my upbringing by my parents also played a role. Even my religious outlook was influenced by this—I remember asking my mother, who was very religious, “But what about the Native Americans, Mom—those who never had the opportunity to come to know Jesus?”

That was when I was first confronted with the Christian view that only those who give their hearts to Jesus will enter heaven. What a narrow-minded perspective! Yet, most professing Christians accept it without question, failing to consider the implications: that this view condemns the vast majority of humanity who have ever lived to an eternity in hell—that outer darkness where not even stars shine, where they are cut off from everything, even from God. What a callous view of the God of love.

It is perhaps simply human nature to look out for one’s own interests first. Even within the Christian perspective mentioned above, one seeks one’s own future—to reach heaven—while showing little regard for others; such concern is, for the most part, little more than lip service. Although our church sends out missionaries, it is a losing battle. I know that Hannes—the son of Rev. Attie and Wena van Wyk, a retired ministerial couple from Wellington—spent his entire life as a missionary in the Middle East. There are approximately 400 million Muslims (94%), compared to about 15 million (less than 2%) people of all other denominations.

Moreover, the sentiment against Christians is so strong that if a missionary were to succeed in reaching a Muslim, the individual would almost certainly turn to his imam for guidance—who would then convince him that his own faith is the correct one. And should he choose to convert, he would be cast out of his entire community; some are even threatened with death.

The opposite of selfless is selfish. Let us examine what the two main political ideologies have to say.

CAPITALISM

We grew up in a capitalist society. This is an economic system in which the means of production (such as factories, machinery, and land) are privately owned by individuals or companies, rather than by the state.

Key characteristics

Profit motive: The primary objective of businesses is to generate profit by selling goods and services freely within the marketplace.

Free market (supply and demand): Prices and production levels are determined by competition and consumer preferences, with minimal government interference.

Wage labor: Individuals work for a wage or salary, employed by the owners of businesses.

Private property rights: Individuals have the right to own and retain their own assets, businesses, and profits.

Advantages: It stimulates technological innovation, increases productivity, and often leads to economic growth and a wider variety of products.

Disadvantages: Critics point out that it can lead to inequality (the rich becoming richer and the poor poorer), the exploitation of workers, and environmental damage.

Capitalism is often viewed as selfish because it is driven by individual self-interest and the pursuit of profit; however, historically, it has proven to be the most effective system for creating wealth and encouraging innovation. This perspective aligns closely with the ideas of the renowned Scottish economist Adam Smith (1723–1790). He argued that when individuals pursue their own interests, they often—as if guided by an "invisible hand"—unintentionally benefit society as a whole by creating better products, lower prices, and job opportunities, thereby contributing to the broader economic prosperity of society. However, since the system is not perfect, it can be viewed from various perspectives:

Why it is considered the "best" system (The Advantages)

Innovation and freedom: It grants people the freedom to test new ideas, establish businesses, and create wealth. Competition compels companies to constantly improve.

Efficiency: Markets largely regulate themselves through the law of supply and demand, which means that resources generally flow to where they are most needed and yield the highest returns.

Historical success: Compared to strictly socialist or communist systems (where the state controls everything), capitalist economies have historically delivered higher standards of living and faster economic growth for the general population.

Why it is considered "selfish" (The Drawbacks)

Inequality: Because the system rewards those who compete successfully, it can lead to massive gaps between the rich and the poor.

Profit above all else: Without regulation, an exclusive focus on profit can lead to the exploitation of workers or damage to the environment.

Not everyone starts from the same position: The system assumes a level playing field, but in practice, individuals with existing capital or better resources have a significant head start.

COMMUNISM (SOCIALISM)

In contrast, there is Communism—a political and economic system in which all means of production, factories, and property are owned by the state, with the goal of creating a classless society without private ownership.

Key characteristics

Equal distribution: Wealth and resources are shared so that no one is rich or poor. Its well-known principle is: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

No private enterprise: Individuals do not own their own businesses, factories, or land; everything is managed by the central authority or the community.

Origin: The ideology was developed in the 1800s by German thinkers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels through works such as The Communist Manifesto (1848). It emerged as a reaction to the exploitation of workers during the Industrial Revolution (1750 to 1850).

Historical application: It was first applied on a large scale in 1917 during the Russian Revolution and later spread to countries such as China, Cuba, and parts of Eastern Europe.

The major drawback of communism is that it is a dishonest system. “Everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others” – those with more influence live in greater luxury than the ordinary class of people, who struggle to afford even basic necessities. It is often characterized by empty shop shelves and long queues of people whenever scarce items become available. Because no one is permitted to own anything, the state deprives everyone of the essential motivation to strive for something better—why work harder if you stand to gain no benefit from it? In any case, you will receive exactly the same as the sluggard toiling alongside you.

THE MODERN COMPROMISE

Today, most economists and governments agree that both pure capitalism (without any rules) and pure socialism (total state control) create problems. Consequently, most successful countries employ a mixed economic system:

They allow the capitalist market to generate wealth and create jobs.

However, the state intervenes through regulations (such as labor laws and environmental rules) and taxation to fund a social safety net (including healthcare and education).

Although other alternative systems exist, capitalist-based systems have proven to be the most beneficial for a nation. They provide individuals with exceptional abilities the opportunity to leverage their talents and, in the process, accumulate wealth. The benefit of this is that everyone gains—including the poor, who, through hard work, can secure employment and afford tangible assets such as a home, equipment, and a vehicle. A crucial advantage is that the pursuit of something better motivates people, serving as an essential driving force for growth and expansion.

Is there truly a place in today’s world to be “selfless”? Every influence—whether capitalist or socialist in nature—argues against it. Even in nature, life is a struggle for survival, where the strongest prevail. Yet, there are many individuals—such as Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr.—who stand as exceptions.

Mother Teresa (1910–1997), born in North Macedonia, was a world-renowned Roman Catholic nun.

Key facts about her life:

Origins and Name: She was of Albanian descent and joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in 1928 before departing for India.

Calcutta: She spent years teaching, after which she dedicated her life to caring for the poor, the homeless, the sick, and the dying in the slums of Calcutta.

Missionaries of Charity: In 1950, she founded this order, which grew globally to operate orphanages, soup kitchens, and homes for those suffering from leprosy and AIDS.

Awards: In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work.

Canonization: On September 4, 2016, Pope Francis officially declared her a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. If there was ever someone who was truly selfless, it was Mother Teresa.

Emily Hobhouse (1860–1926) was an English pacifist, reformer, and prominent figure during the Second Boer War, when she concerned herself with the plight of women and children in the concentration camps. She was an exceptionally selfless person.

Background

She was born in 1860 in Cornwall, the daughter of the Rev. Reginald Hobhouse, the Anglican Archdeacon of Bodmin. Emily’s family had a history of exceptional public service. Her paternal grandfather was Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and State Archivist. Her uncle Arthur, the first Baron Hobhouse, was a prominent jurist, a legal member of the Council of India, and a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Her brother, Leonard, was the first professor of sociology at the University of London. Her mother was the daughter of Sir William Trelawny, a Liberal Member of Parliament for East Cornwall.

Early Life

Apart from a brief period in 1876 at a boarding school in Cornwall, Emily received her formal education from a succession of governesses who, in her view, were all extremely incompetent. Her father was a particularly reserved man of deep, albeit suppressed, emotion. Her mother possessed a lively sense of humour and a zest for life that served as a counterpoint to the stern and rather unapproachable disposition of Emily’s father. Emily’s highly developed moral sense and sense of duty likely stemmed from her father, while she probably inherited her enthusiasm, self-confidence, and generosity from her mother.

Archdeacon Hobhouse’s poor health meant that he and his wife spent most of their winters on the French Riviera. During these times, the children would stay with their aunt and uncle (later Lord and Lady Hobhouse). Emily became particularly attached to them. Following her mother’s death in 1880, her father became even more withdrawn. As the other children left home—Emily was the fifth of six children—she remained behind from 1889 onwards to care for him. In later years, she would describe this period as the most difficult of her life, though it likely laid the foundation for her self-sacrificing spirit. In addition to her demanding duties at home, she occupied herself with social and church-related work, reading, and music.

After 35 years in her family home, Emily was finally freed from her domestic duties following the death of her father. However, due to her age and lack of training or experience, she found it difficult to secure a suitable place for herself in the world. Her background in parish work—and her conviction that this was the only type of work for which she was suited—led her to become involved in the Anglo-Boer War.

With the outbreak of the Second Boer War, she began to take an interest in the South African Women and Children Distress Fund. She traveled to South Africa herself to investigate conditions firsthand. Due to martial law and censorship, she—like many others—had heard of the "scorched earth" policy, but remained unaware of the existence of the concentration camps. It was only after arriving in South Africa on 27 December 1900 that she learned of the camps within a few days. She soon discovered that things were far from right; despite facing serious opposition—and even threats of deportation and imprisonment—she succeeded in bringing the facts to light. The abuses, which were largely the result of administrative ignorance and a lack of experience, caused a major stir in England.

Following the appointment of a women’s committee in England—which garnered support within influential circles—the staggering death toll among women and children in the camps dropped significantly. After the war, Miss. Hobhouse, who was a prominent public figure at the time, started a weaving school for Boer girls in Philippolis; she subsequently expanded this initiative to 26 such schools across the Free State and the Transvaal. During the First World War, she continued her significant relief work in Europe.

Upon her death in 1926, she was accorded a state funeral in Bloemfontein. Following her cremation in England, her ashes were placed in a niche at the base of the Women’s Monument in Bloemfontein—the greatest honor the Afrikaner people could bestow upon her.

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) was a British nurse, social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She came to be known as the "Lady with the Lamp" for her work at night, when she tended to wounded soldiers in the hospital.

Crimean War (1854–1856): She led a team of nurses to the Scutari hospital, where she improved hygiene, cleanliness, and ventilation, which drastically reduced the mortality rate among soldiers.

Statistics: She was a pioneer in the use of statistics and designed the "rose diagram" (polar area diagram) to illustrate mortality rates in hospitals. She was the first female member of the Royal Statistical Society.

School and Books: In 1860, she established the first professional nursing school at St. Thomas' Hospital in London and authored the well-known book “Notes on Nursing” (1859/1860).

Honour: In 1907, she became the first woman to receive the British Order of Merit.

International Nurses Day: Celebrated annually on her birthday (12 May).

Here are a few other people who acted selflessly:

Irena Sendler (1910–2008): A Polish nurse and social worker who, during the Holocaust, smuggled approximately 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto.

Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941): A Polish Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the starvation bunker at Auschwitz; he had previously hidden thousands of refugees—including Jews—in his monastery.

Sir Nicholas Winton (1909–2015): A British humanitarian who, on the eve of the Second World War, organized the rescue of 669 children—mostly Jewish—from Czechoslovakia (known as the Czech "Kindertransport"); he kept his quiet act of heroism a secret for nearly 50 years.

Oskar Schindler (1908–1974): A German industrialist who spent his entire fortune and used his Nazi Party membership to employ and protect more than 1,200 Jews in his factories during the Holocaust.

Harriet Tubman (1822–1913): An escaped slave who became a "conductor" on the "Underground Railroad" (the secret network for escaping slaves); she undertook several dangerous journeys back into the pro-slavery South to rescue dozens of slaves.

James Harrison (1936–2024): An Australian blood donor, known as "the man with the golden arm," whose plasma contained a rare antibody used to develop the Anti-D injection. Through his weekly donations over a period of 60 years, he helped save an estimated 2.5 million babies from Rhesus disease.

Henry Dunant (1828–1910): A Swiss businessman who, in 1859, witnessed the horrific aftermath of the Battle of Solferino; he mobilized local residents to care for wounded soldiers—regardless of which side of the conflict they fought on—and initiated the movement that led to the founding of the Red Cross and the establishment of the Geneva Conventions.

Like these few individuals, there are surely thousands who have performed similar acts of selflessness. There are also many organizations dedicated to helping those in need, without seeking any personal benefit.

In South Africa, I can think of a few:

Lions Clubs International

Rapportryers

Rotarians

Round Table

Voortrekkers

ATKV

Solidariteit Helpende Hand

SAVF

Eleos

Volkshulp 2000

Internationally, there are many such organizations active in every country. So, if you feel inspired to do something beyond yourself for others who need help, find an organization and join—extra hands are always welcome, as there are many people in need of assistance. You will find that opening your heart to another also does something for you. Human beings were not created to live solely for themselves.

Conclusion

(Gemini) This piece serves as a powerful reminder that selflessness is the true measure of human dignity. By exploring the contrast between selfish economic systems and the selfless acts of historical heroes—supported by personal experiences where protection was extended to the vulnerable—one arrives at the clear conclusion that a meaningful life always extends beyond the self. Whether through an organized institution, voluntary community work, or a simple act of compassion, opening your heart to others not only enriches their lives but also brings deep fulfillment and purpose to your own existence.