Full Idea
A theory of morals which motivates can only do so by working on self-love, but what springs from this latter has no moral worth.
Gist of Idea
Only self-love can motivate morality, but that also makes it worthless
Source
Arthur Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Idea [1819], IV.66)
Book Reference
Schopenhauer,Arthur: 'The World as Will and Idea', ed/tr. Berman,Jill and David [Everyman 1995], p.230
A Reaction
I just don't believe this pessimism. Schopenhauer was an incipient social darwinist who needed a course in modern game theory. Or he just needed to be a nicer man.
Related Idea
Idea 7833 Spinoza names self-interest as the sole source of value [Spinoza, by Stewart,M]