People think they’re insulting someone by calling them “egoist,” and in doing so they show how unaware they are that this isn’t an insult but an entire philosophy.

 People think they’re insulting someone by calling them “egoist,” and in doing so they show how unaware they are that this isn’t an insult but an entire philosophy. Ego has nothing to do with arrogance or pride; it simply means the self. The word “egoist” does not mean “selfish;” it means self-centered in the sense of being rooted in one’s own being. Only one thing can capture my interest: me, me, and again me. Even if there is no such thing as "I," still me. In every situation, I inevitably give priority to myself and regard myself as fundamentally superior to everyone else; however, I do not carry the kind of arrogance that boasts, indulges in self-admiration, or craves to be expressed. I simply exist as primary. Yes, I am a proud egoist. But no, I am not an “egotist.”