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… is from page 49 of Eamonn Butler’s excellent 2018 monograph, An Introduction to Capitalism [2]:
Self-interest means people pursuing their own aims, visions, purposes and ambitions, and not those imposed on them by others. They pursue those dreams not just for their individual benefit but for the benefit of their families and others whom they love and care about.
DBx: Indeed so.
It’s astonishing how often those who are hostile to free markets self-righteously insist that it is anti-social and “greedy” for Smith and Jones each to pursue ends that each chooses, while it is the height of pro-social magnanimity for Jones to force Smith to pursue ends that Jones chooses.