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  ...to serve the sick in a plague at almost certain danger to his own life must be interested in the efficient performance of his profession -- more interested in that than in the safety of his own bodily life. But it is distorting facts to say that this interest is merely a mask for an interest in something else which he gets by continuing his customary services -- such as money or good repute or virtue; that it is only a means to an ulterior selfish end. The moment we recognize that The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.   the whole situation clears up. A man's interest in keeping at his work in spite of danger to life means that his self is found in that work; if he finally gave up, and preferred his personal safety or comfort, it would mean that he preferred to be that kind of a self. The mistake lies in making a separation between interest and self, and supposing that the latter is the end to which interest in objects and acts and others is a mere means. In fact, self and interest are two names for...   Dewey, John

Excerpt from Democracy and Education: an introduction to the philosophy of education · This quote is about action · Search on Google Books to find all references and sources for this quotation.

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