Selfishness is the oldest human problem. Long before nations rose or economies formed, before governments, laws, or institutions existed, selfishness lived in the human heart. It is the original sin because it is the root of every other sin, placing the self above truth, above others, and above God. And while selfishness has plagued humanity from the beginning, history shows unmistakable cycles when it becomes more rampant than usual.
The first evidence comes from Scripture. In Genesis, humanity reaches a point where “every inclination of the heart was only evil continually.” In Judges, society collapses into chaos because “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” The pattern is clear: when selfishness becomes normalized, communities fracture, justice disappears, and collapse follows. When love of neighbor, humility, and obedience return, renewal begins.
The same pattern appears in classical history. Ancient Greece thrived when civic virtue, shared responsibility and sacrifice, guided public life. But as luxury, self‑indulgence, and personal ambition took over, the culture weakened from within. Rome followed the same arc. Historians like Edward Gibbon noted that Rome did not fall because of external enemies alone, but because internal selfishness hollowed out its strength. Citizens stopped valuing duty. Leaders pursued power over service. Hedonistic pleasure replaced purpose. The empire crumbled long before the barbarians arrived.
Even the Christian Churches has experienced these cycles. Periods of corruption, when leaders sought wealth, influence, or comfort, were always followed by reform movements that restored humility, service, and holiness. Whenever selfishness dominated, the Church weakened. Whenever self‑giving love returned, the Church flourished.
Modern society is no different. Sociologists describe the “Me Decade” of the 1970s as a cultural shift toward expressive individualism, where personal desire became more important than community, family, or responsibility. Today, digital culture amplifies this trend, and many parents are complicit in the damage it causes. Social media encourages self‑promotion. Algorithms reward outrage. Echo chambers reinforce self‑centered thinking. The result is rising loneliness, polarization, and distrust.
Economists and historians describe a repeating cycle:
Hard times create strong people.
Strong people create good times.
Good times create weak people.
Weak people create hard times.
At the center of the decline phase is always the same force: selfishness.
But here is the hope: every cycle of selfishness has been followed by renewal. When people rediscover virtue, responsibility, and truth, societies heal. When families strengthen, communities rebuild. When individuals choose service over self, the world changes.
Selfishness may be humanity’s oldest problem, but self‑giving love is humanity’s oldest cure. And every generation has the chance to choose which one it will embrace.
If this is my last post, I want all to know there was only one purpose for all that I have written; to have made a positive difference in the lives of others.
Anthony “Tony” Boquet, Solutionary, author of “The Bloodline of Wisdom, The Awakening of a Modern Solutionary” and “The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, A Devotional Timeline”