Being selfish is a good thing. That's what pursuing values is. All entrepreneurs do it. In context of trade, you only make money when you actually sell somethi

Being selfish is a good thing. That's what pursuing values is. All entrepreneurs do it. In context of trade, you only make money when you actually sell something people want and give them a good deal. Let's look at the other side of the coin. If you try to cheat or victimize others, you are actually acting against your long-term interest; you are not being selfish. Bernie Madoff was profoundly unselfish. He sacrificed his life. Watch out for politicians and Popes who demonize selfishness; they want to interrupt others' pursuit of values for some cause which, inevitably, is ignoble. The expansion of the economy, which is what creates opportunity, expands the labor market, and raises the standard of living, turns on allowing people to pursue their values. This, and its converse, is demonstrated empirically over and over since the Industrial Revolution. People are poorer in direct proportion to how socialist their country is. (And the US, with a stagnant underclass, is actually quite close to Sweden these days in terms of regulation and wealth redistribution). That is why it's important to reclaim the word "selfishness," not just let people equate it with short-term victimization of others.