self interest

/ˌsɛlfˈɪntrəst/
noun
  1. The concern for your own personal advantage or well-being, often at the expense of others.
    • She acted out of self-interest when she took credit for her coworker's idea.
    • His decision was driven purely by self-interest, not by what was fair for the team.
    • In business, a certain amount of self-interest is expected, but honesty still matters.
  2. A natural or reasonable concern for your own welfare, without necessarily harming others.
    • It's not selfish to look after your own self-interest; you need to stay healthy and happy.
    • He argued that self-interest is a basic human motivation that can lead to positive outcomes.
    • Enlightened self-interest means helping others because it benefits you in the long run.
What does "self interest" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean