What do you think of this quote?

I am a non-believer but I find very meaningful these well known lines of the Talmud that came from Rabbi Hillel:

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, then when?

The second two lines are particularly interesting. The implication of the second line is that being self-centered goes beyond ethics. The one we hurt most is ourselves by not being fully human.

The third line does not at first appear to relate to the other two, but if you have ever contemplated making changes to your life in accordance with the first two lines then it makes a whole lot of sense.

Hillel is an interesting character. He lived the generation before Jesus and introduced a reformed and more liberal interpretation of the Bible. Given his reputation, it is certain that Jesus knew of him and one can conjecture as to how much of an influence he was on Jesus.