The common character of mankind?

(by David Black)

Selfishness, or inordinate self love,
is the common character of mankind.

While men are strangers to the regenerating
power of divine grace, they are almost wholly
guided by it. Even their boasted benevolence,
is little better than refined selfishness.

The world they pursue as their chief good.

Its honors, its riches, or its pleasures, are,
in their estimation, of the highest importance;
so that, regardless of the glory of their Maker
and of the ultimate end of their being, they
only consult the desires of present selfish
gratification.