It really seems honesty and kindness get you nowhere.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours volunteering. I donated money to good causes when I had it. I spoke up for others.
But I have nothing for it. No one will wish me happy birthday this year. No one will ever do any of the things that I did for others for me.
While evil people succeed. Narcissists can charm others into playing along with their world, people who do their jobs poorly will keep them.
Hard work, honesty, really any of those “positive” values seem to get you nowhere in life.
I don’t believe they do that well. Whatever reasons someone has for consistently treating others badly are likely reasons for being fucked up internally too. Considering the most famously successful shitheads, there’s really no way those people are having an especially good time.
Materially sure, nothing guarantees it’s fair or just. The bottom rung of material success trumps a lot of stuff for how your life is going to be. If you don’t have that, I think you are entitled to be a little selfish for the sake of surviving and taking care of yourself. Past that, it’s negative all around.