--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the…" description: "\"Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul; Reason's comparing balance rules the whole. Man, but for that no action could attend, And, but for this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/alexander-pope-235_action_self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the_1810485.png" --- # Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul; Reason's… ![“Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul; Reason's comparing balance rules the whole. Man, but for that no action could attend, And, but for this, were active to no end: Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot; Or, meteor-like, flame lawless thro' the…” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/alexander-pope-235_action_self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the_1810485.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/alexander-pope-235_action_self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the_1810485.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/alexander-pope-235_action_self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the_1810485.png) > “Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul; Reason's comparing balance rules the whole. Man, but for that no action could attend, And, but for this, were active to no end: Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot; Or, meteor-like, flame lawless thro' the void, Destroying others, by himself destroy'd.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-love drives action; reason balances life; without action, existence is stagnant, like a fixed plant or a destructive meteor. **In simple terms:** Balance love and reason to act. Key Takeaway Cultivate balanced, purposeful action. Themes self-awareness balance action Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal growth - creative projects - health routines - career planning Key Concepts existentialism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self-care with responsibility? - What actions reflect your inner purpose? A Different Perspective Excessive self-love can become selfishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Compare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compare/) [Destroying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Flames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flames/) [Like Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-plant-437525/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Meteors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meteors/) [Motion Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-acts-2110611/) [Nutrition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nutrition/) [Peculiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peculiar/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate and rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/fix-d-like-a-plant-on-his-peculiar-spot-to-draw-nutrition-propagate/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The first serious consciousness of Nature's gesture - her attitude towards life-took form then as a phantasm, a nightmare, all insanity of force. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-first-serious-consciousness-of-nature-s-gesture-her-attitude/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“Love is like a plant...; some are planted, while other are germinated...!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep-prakash-sdk/love-is-like-a-plant-some-are-planted-while-other-are-germinated/) [Sudeep Prakash Sdk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep-prakash-sdk/) > [“What ever was fair? What ever is? You put one foot in front of the other and you walk through all of it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-mapson/what-ever-was-fair-what-ever-is-you-put-one-foot-in-front-of-the/) [Jo-Ann Mapson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-mapson/) > [A child needs encouragement like a plant needs water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-dreikurs/a-child-needs-encouragement-like-a-plant-needs-water/) [Rudolf Dreikurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-dreikurs/) > [Good gardening is very simple, really. You just have to learn to think like a plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-damrosch/good-gardening-is-very-simple-really-you-just-have-to-learn-to-think/) [Barbara Damrosch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-damrosch/) > [“People change, you know. When you leave your country, you are like a plant taken out of soil. Some people turn hard, they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/people-change-you-know-when-you-leave-your-country-you-are-like-a/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I always think of a show like a plant - a little pruning now and then keeps it healthy, but you shouldn't pull it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-goodman/i-always-think-of-a-show-like-a-plant-a-little-pruning-now-and-then/) [Len Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-goodman/) > [“And to me, wildness means following the growth of love. Like a plant reaching through stone toward the sun-”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/and-to-me-wildness-means-following-the-growth-of-love-like-a-plant/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“The ego mind is like a plant growing in a very small pot. While the pot may be attractive and ornate, its size doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/the-ego-mind-is-like-a-plant-growing-in-a-very-small-pot-while-the/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [I'm like a plant, I reach for the sun...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-king/i-m-like-a-plant-i-reach-for-the-sun/) [Carole King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-king/) > [Love is like a plant. It takes time to grow but, when you stop caring for it, it slowly dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-a-plant-it-takes-time-to-grow-but-when-you-stop-caring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm trying to photosynthesize like a plant. I'm off eating. Although I am making a lot of banana daiquiries in my room in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-m-trying-to-photosynthesize-like-a-plant-i-m-off-eating-although-i/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [A person who loves his or her work Is like a plant in the right spot: There growth is maximized And the yield is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cox/a-person-who-loves-his-or-her-work-is-like-a-plant-in-the-right-spot/) [Jeff Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cox/) > [“I love you like the plant that does not bloom and carries in itself, hidden, the light of those flowers,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/i-love-you-like-the-plant-that-does-not-bloom-and-carries-in-itself/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## 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. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul; Reason's comparing balance rules the whole. Man, but for that no action could attend, And, but for this, were active to no end: Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot; Or, meteor-like, flame lawless thro' the void, Destroying others, by himself destroy'd.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the-soul-reason-s-comparing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the-soul-reason-s-comparing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/alexander-pope-235_action_self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the_1810485.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/alexander-pope-235_action_self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the_1810485.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/alexander-pope-235_action_self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the_1810485.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul; Reason's comparing balance rules the whole. Man, but for…” — Alexander Pope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Self-love, the spring of motion, acts...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the-soul-reason-s-comparing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/self-love-the-spring-of-motion-acts-the-soul-reason-s-comparing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```