The real weight here isn't that helping others is good—that's elementary morality. Rather, it's a claim about human *worth itself*: you don't earn dignity through wealth, status, or even private virtue, but through what you actually do for those around you. This inverts how we typically measure people, suggesting that the quiet librarian who helps patrons navigate research deserves more respect than the philanthropist whose donations come from indifference. It's a standard that keeps us honest, because it can't be faked or purchased—only lived.