Think Beyond Yourself

“What you do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others lives forever.” – Ken Robinson

Gautam Buddha identified four types of people in the world:

1.Those who do neither good for themselves nor for others.

2. Those who do good for others but not for themselves.

3. Those who do good for themselves but not for others.

4. Those who do good for both themselves and others.

The fourth type is considered ideal. Abraham Lincoln represents this ideal. After emerging from difficult circumstances and establishing himself as a successful lawyer, Lincoln could have easily chosen a life of luxury and comfort. However, he chose a path of selflessness, dedicating himself to the freedom of millions of African Americans who had endured generations of slavery.

In this world, people often work hard to change their lives and remain content. If we examine history, we see many who built vast empires for themselves but contributed little to humanity. These individuals fall into the category of those who do good for themselves but not for others. A true sign of greatness is a selfless commitment to improving the lives of others. Figures like Buddha, Jesus, Lincoln, Marie Curie, Einstein, Tolstoy, and Lao Tzu have proven this. They achieved greatness not merely for personal gain but to enhance the well-being of their fellow humans. As George Eliot said, “What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?”