self-concernn.

1669 E. Mico tr. N. Bacon Jrnl. Medit. 122 Whither you be wholy taken up in those things that are of your heavenly father, or rather in toys, in things of this world, in self concernes, in affaires opposit to Heaven, and contrary to your vocation.

1681 J. Owen Φρονημα του Πνευματος i. iv. 52 Confined almost in their thoughts unto themselves,..and their self concerns.

1731 N. N. tr. J. Gracián Burning Lamp viii. 134 He forgets his own Necessities and Self-concerns, to attend to whatever may most conduce to the Service of his Celestial Spouse.

1778 Friendship in Nunnery I. xiv. 116 Every self-concern is swallowed up in friendship.

1882 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Nov. 630/1 Poor Mirabeau! unscrupulous in self-concerns, a statesman of unyielding honesty, in everything resistless.

1916 N.Y. Times Mag. 9 July 4/2 The sudden forgetting of one's self concerns and private belongings for a selfless service.

1986 F. Stella Working Space 1/2 The sense that painting, albeit in the service of belief, can rise above the self-concerns that determine its ends.

2007 D. West Death of Grown-up (2008) ix. 188 The instinct to survive wasn't just a self-concern; it was, it turned out, the saving grace of civilization.

1670 J. Davies tr. F. de la Rochefoucauld Epictetus Junior lxxxiv. 49 There is a certain injustice and self-concern in the Passions, whence it comes that they are always offensive and injurious, even when they seem to speak most reason and equity.

1708 Rev. State Brit. Nation 3 Jan. 558/1 The most envious and the warmest Promoters of Scandal cannot say, he could have any Self-Concern, he had no heirs to inherit, and could have nothing in View for himself.

1769 A. Crosbie Thoughts of Layman conc. Patronage & Presentations 2 Even those who are insensible to the impressions of religion, will from self-concern..wish to forward its interest among men.

1810 National Intelligencer & Washington Advertiser 11 Apr. A degree of self-concern always influenced individual conduct.

1879 Singleton (New S. Wales) Argus 27 Aug. (Suppl.) The promoters of the venture, who have the prosperity of this town at heart, and who are not merely actuated by motives of self-concern.

1918 Bankers Mag. June 696/1 He was bristling with pompous self-concern.

1972 P. D. James Unsuitable Job iv. 148 Even their compassion had been overlaid with self concern.

1982 J. O'Faolain Obedient Wife i. 23 It says something about the way you see me. Forgive my self-concern.

2014 Church Times 12 Dec. 25/5 If the state continues to collude with adult self-concern at the expense of children's welfare, heterosexual marriage will remain in trouble.