Motive Quotes

782 Motive quotes by 561 unique authors

However absurd it may seem, I do in all seriousness hereby declare that I am animated mainly by philanthropic motives. I desire to do good… — Oliver Heaviside
But if we never acted except when we were certain our motives were pure, we would never act at all. — C.J. Sansom
Totalitarianism spells simplification: an enormous reduction in the variety of aims, motives, interests, human types, and, above all, in the categories and units of power. — Eric Hoffer
Before impugning an opponent's motives, even when they legitimately may be impugned, answer his arguments. — Sidney Hook
Remember us in your prayers that we grow not weary in well doing. It is hard to work for years with pure motives, and all… — David Livingstone
It is hard to work for years with pure motives, and all the time be looked upon by most of those to whom our lives… — David Livingstone
If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and broken-hearted, for we shall often meet with more ingratitude from… — Oswald Chambers
Mere negation, mere Epicurean infidelity, as Lord Bacon most justly observes, has never disturbed the peace of the world. It furnishes no motive for action;… — Thomas B. Macaulay
[There is] a strange split in thinking common to those on the religious left, who are quick to denounce the profit motive and commercialism. Yet,… — Unknown Author
If adventure has a final and all-embracing motive, it is surely this: we go out because it is our nature to go out, to climb… — Wilfrid Noyce
The ideal of faith in ourselves is of the greatest help to us. If faith in ourselves had been more extensively taught and practiced, I… — Swami Vivekananda
The systematic study of mass psychology revealed to students the potentialities of invisible government of society by manipulation of the motives which actuate man in… — Edward Bernays
Spiritual awakening is the most essential thing in man's life, and it is the sole purpose of being. Is not civilization, in all its tragic… — Khalil Gibran
It is the distinguishing glory of Christianity not to rest satisfied with superficial appearances, but to rectify the motives, and purify the heart. — William Wilberforce
The dog barking at you from behind his master's fence acts for a motive indistinguishable from that of his master when the fence was built. — Robert Ardrey
If you seek His help, be sure your life is clean, your motives are worthy, and you're willing to do what He asks-for He will… — Richard G. Scott
All higher motives, ideals, conceptions, sentiments in a man are of no account if they do not come forward to strengthen him for the better… — Henry Ward Beecher
Selfishness is the most constant of human motives. Patriotism, humanity, or the love of God may lead to sporadic outbursts sweep away the heaped-up wrongs… — Charles W. Chesnutt
The fundamental motive of true teaching is the love that seeks and studies and performs. — Robert Grudin
The only motive strong enough to induce men to exercise the self control required by the religion of Jesus is love. — Marion G. Romney
Many of us knock on the door but remain outside, because knocking and entering are entirely different actions. Knocking is necessary, consisting of reading books,… — Vernon Howard
In the fulfillment of your duties, let your intentions be so pure that you reject from your actions any other motive than the glory of… — Pope John Paul II
If the outcome is good, what's the difference between motives that sound good and good, sound motives? — Laurence J. Peter
Even if our motives are presently misunderstood. We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of… — Martin Luther King, Jr.
When the motives of artists are profound, when they are at their work as a result of deep consideration, when they believe in the importance… — Robert Henri

Who Wrote These Motive Quotes

561 authors contributed a total of 782 Motive Quotes, led by these top contributors: