Is morality in and of itself self-interested?

I don't mean to be pedantic when I ask this, but my best friend and I have (had) the following argument that I am still considering, and I'd like any additional feedback on it.<br><br> <br><br>Here's the argument: <br><br> <br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>*Is morality selfish? For example, if I am being kind to someone, I have chosen to be exactly that: kind, because I have weighed my options in a process of self-reflection and deliberation. I could choose to be not kind, but I choose to be kind because I want to be. Similarly, if I choose to lie to someone, I have chosen to lie because I would rather not tell the truth. So, my actions are either justified by self-interest, or they are not justified at all.* <br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>This is a tough argument, as I don't think people who have made moral choices everyday have been intentionally motivated by self-interest. And when confronted with that counter-argument, my friend says that self-interest doesn't necessarily mean a selfish interest. For example: <br><br> <br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>*If a person decides they don't want to be a terrible liar in the future, but in their present circumstances decides to be a good liar to get out of a hard situation, then they have chosen to be honest as a moral rule to follow (perfectly in line with Kant's moral philosophy) and the only reason they choose to be a good liar in their present circumstances is because they don't want to be a bad liar in the future, and it is that choice that spurs the action in the first place.* <br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>So, in essence, if we choose to be anything, we choose to be that thing because we want to be that thing. And as long as we make a choice, we are always motivated by self-interest. Do you agree?