Motive Quotes

782 Motive quotes by 561 unique authors

The morality of an action depends on the motive from which we act. If I fling half a crown to a beggar with intention to… — Samuel Johnson
I am unable to conceive that the state legislatures which must feel so many motives to watch, and which possess so many means of counteracting… — James Madison
This policy of supplying by opposite and rival interests, the defect of better motives, might be traced through the whole system of human affairs, both… — James Madison
Extend the sphere and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole… — James Madison
The establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive which induced me to the Field - the object is attained - and it now… — George Washington
Cruel and cold is the judgment of man, Cruel as winter, and cold as the snow; But by-and-by will the deed and the plan Be… — John L. Bates
A supreme love, a motive that gives a sublime rhythm to a woman's life, and exalts habit into partnership with the soul's highest needs, is… — George Eliot
Those who know the truth are not equal to those who love it Confucius All truth is safe and nothing else is safe, but he… — James Russell Lowell
Whatever may be the judgement pronounced on the competency of the architects of the Constitution, or whatever may be the destiny of the edifice prepared… — James Madison
The majority of men cannot be made disinterested for life by exhortation, by religious services, by any expenditure of subsidized works, or even by grave… — Herbert Croly
We can only write well about our sins because it is too difficult to recall a virtuous act or even whether it was the result… — Edward Dahlberg
The true liberty of the press is amply secured by permitting every man to publish his opinion; but it is due to the peace and… — Thomas McKean
[T]he great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department consists in giving to those who administer each department the… — James Madison
Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and… — Bernard de Mandeville
To act intelligently in human affairs is only possible if an attempt is made to understand the thoughts, motives, and apprehension of one's opponent so… — Albert Einstein
I always have a high regard for the individual and have an insuperable distaste for violence and clubmanship. All these motives made me into a… — Albert Einstein
I wish I could recall with clarity the impulse that compelled me to help bring this camp into being. I'd be pleased if I could… — Paul Newman
If it were true that conservatives were racist, sexist, homophobic, fascist, stupid, inflexible, angry, and self-righteous, shouldn't their arguments be easy to deconstruct? Someone who… — Ann Coulter
It's so easy to become a grumbler, someone who condemns and carps at everything on principle and sees an ulterior motive behind it. — Eric Metaxas
Love is a momentary upwelling of three tightly interwoven events: First, a sharing of one or more positive emotions between you and another; second, a… — Barbara Fredrickson
We must not inquire too curiously into motives. they are apt to become feeble in the utterance: the aroma is mixed with the grosser air.… — George Eliot
Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don't take too much advice - keep… — Noah Porter
It is so far from being natural for a man and woman to live in a state of marriage, that we find all the motives… — Samuel Johnson
Neither fear nor self-interest can convert the soul. They may change the appearance, perhaps even the conduct, but never the object of supreme desire... Fear… — Bernard of Clairvaux
You can wipe your feet on me, twist my motives around all you like, you can dump millstones on my head and drown me in… — Margaret Atwood

Who Wrote These Motive Quotes

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