We have observed that, although most of us will value our own lives very highly most of the time and will act to preserve it, there are easily circumstances in which we will place the value of something, or someone, above the level at which we value our own life.

We also examined the plus factor present in all of our voluntary behavior. We act to make gains, (or to minimize losses - itself a form of gain) either in the form of situations, goods, or relationships to others. We choose to act because we believe we will gain from the action.

This is important for us to consider as we examine this concept of sacrifice versus self-sacrifice.

For example. You walk into a store. You see a display of apples. You realize that you are hungry (or perhaps you just like apples). Having the appropriate amount of cash in your pocket, you voluntarily exchange possession of the requested amount of cash for possession of the apple.

Has a sacrifice occurred here? Not at all. There has been no loss here, no destruction or injury. Both you and the grocer now have something that you each valued more, voluntarily exchanged for something you each valued less at that moment. You have the apple, he has the cash. Each has gained, in his own estimation of the moment. If either of you had not perceived a gain, either of you could have declined the exchange.