If however, a man of his own free volition enters a cage filled with lions (such as a circus lion tamer) this is never a sacrifice, irrespective of the behavior of the lions or of the final outcome.

Since the lion tamer freely and voluntarily chose to enter the cage without any threat or act of coercion, he acted to fulfill his own sense of profit at the time. This may have been an error, but what we are examining is human motivation, not wisdom.

If a man or woman is free to choose, whether he or she chooses wisely or foolishly, he or she is going to choose in terms of profit or gain as he or she sees it at the time.

If, however, an individual is forced, even if he or she is being compelled to adopt a superior procedure or to fulfill some "greater good", then he or she is a victim of sacrifice.

Put another way, suppose I do something to you against your will. Or suppose you do something to me against my will. The person acted upon by the will of another is the victim of sacrifice!

Now suppose that you voluntarily (without threat or coercion) decide to help another person, or to donate some of your money to your favorite charity. This is not self-sacrifice - there is no such thing! You cannot force yourself to act against your own will!

In this example, you are merely acting in terms of your own sense of value.