--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every action that we take has some…" description: "\"Every action that we take has some motivation of either being selfish or altruistic. All that adds up.\" — Adam Yauch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/adam-yauch-16913_action_every-action-that-we-take-has-some-motiv_2699375.png" --- # Every action that we take has some motivation of either… ![“Every action that we take has some motivation of either being selfish or altruistic. All that adds up.” quote by Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/adam-yauch-16913_action_every-action-that-we-take-has-some-motiv_2699375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/adam-yauch-16913_action_every-action-that-we-take-has-some-motiv_2699375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/adam-yauch-16913_action_every-action-that-we-take-has-some-motiv_2699375.png) > “Every action that we take has some motivation of either being selfish or altruistic. All that adds up.” [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each deed stems from self‑interest or concern for others, and the sum of these motives shapes outcomes. **In simple terms:** Actions are driven by selfish or altruistic motives. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance personal and communal motives. Themes motivation ethics human nature Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - teamwork - leadership - conflict resolution - community building Key Concepts selfishness altruism cumulative effect Questions to Reflect On - What motives drive your daily actions? - How do you balance self‑interest with helping others? A Different Perspective Motives can be mixed, making clear categorization difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Altruistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruistic/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motivation Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation-selfish-2720945/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Altruistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-altruistic-2720946/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [I say you don't need religion, or political ideology, to understand human nature. 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Although honor requires us to make altruistic decisions, even acting for the benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/we-are-animals-yet-are-expected-to-be-so-much-more-although-honor/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To forgive is not just to be altruistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/to-forgive-is-not-just-to-be-altruistic/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [We fail to reckon with the reality of human nature. By nature,we are egocentric. Our world revolves around us. None of us is totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/we-fail-to-reckon-with-the-reality-of-human-nature-by-nature-we-are/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“Otherish givers may appear less altruistic than selfless givers, but their resilience against burnout enables them to contribute more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/otherish-givers-may-appear-less-altruistic-than-selfless-givers-but/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [I think it's really easy to be the altruistic hero of your own narrative and story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/i-think-it-s-really-easy-to-be-the-altruistic-hero-of-your-own/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [The most altruistic and sustainable philosophies fail before the brute brain stem imperative of self-interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-watts/the-most-altruistic-and-sustainable-philosophies-fail-before-the/) [Peter Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-watts/) > [A wider of more altruistic attitude is very relevant in today's world. If we look at the situation from various angles, such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/a-wider-of-more-altruistic-attitude-is-very-relevant-in-today-s-world/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Adam Yauch > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [From being in Tibet and being around Tibetans, I feel like I've learned so much more about what brings a person happiness, about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/from-being-in-tibet-and-being-around-tibetans-i-feel-like-i-ve/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [When I was younger, I felt like I could say anything and it was funny. I've started to realize that what I say and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/when-i-was-younger-i-felt-like-i-could-say-anything-and-it-was-funny/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Just as we were finishing 'Paul's Boutique' we got our own places, and I was going out to clubs a lot less. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/just-as-we-were-finishing-paul-s-boutique-we-got-our-own-places-and-i/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Music is going to go in some direction that is entirely inconceivable now. 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Tensions keep escalating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/if-we-keep-bombing-other-people-that-creates-more-anger-tensions-keep/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [The teachings of Tibetan Buddhism have been passed down for a long time now. They have that system pretty well figured out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-teachings-of-tibetan-buddhism-have-been-passed-down-for-a-long/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [It feels good to play a little music / Tears running down my face 'cause I love to do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/it-feels-good-to-play-a-little-music-tears-running-down-my-face-cause/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [It just seemed like Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism - because that's mainly what I've been exposed to - was a real solid organization of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/it-just-seemed-like-buddhism-especially-tibetan-buddhism-because-that/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) [Explore all 38 Adam Yauch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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