<p>Two dominant ways people seek personal fulfillment are hedonic orientation (prioritizing pleasure/enjoyment, comfort/painlessness) and eudaimonic orientation (prioritizing growth, excellence/virtue, authenticity). This study (<i>N</i> = 443) evaluated the relationship of hedonic versus eudaimonic orientation with motives for prosocial behavior, including relatively other-focused (e.g., express humanitarian values), self-focused (e.g., enhance career prospects), and mixed other-focused/self-focused motives (e.g., alleviate discomfort at witnessing distress). Links with prosocial behavior, emotional empathy, and cognitive empathy were also examined. Only eudaimonic orientation related to other-focused motives, suggesting eudaimonic thinking is needed for the welfare of others and society. Only eudaimonic orientation related to prosocial behavior; emotional empathy and cognitive empathy together partially mediated the link between eudaimonic orientation and prosocial behavior, suggesting the mechanism involves genuine care for others, not merely selfish interests. Both eudaimonic and hedonic orientations related to most motives that were self-focused or mixed other-focused/self-focused, suggesting that eudaimonic orientation is not purely altruistic, but rather a balance of concerns for self and others.</p>