--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always look at money not as a…" description: "\"I always look at money not as a motivating factor but as an element in the composition. You can't ignore it, but you've got to be very careful that it'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/damien-hirst-3219_always_i-always-look-at-money-not-as-a-motivati_38774.jpg" --- # I always look at money not as a motivating factor but as… ![“I always look at money not as a motivating factor but as an element in the composition. You can't ignore it, but you've got to be very careful that it's not motivating you.” quote by Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/damien-hirst-3219_always_i-always-look-at-money-not-as-a-motivati_38774.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/damien-hirst-3219_always_i-always-look-at-money-not-as-a-motivati_38774.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/damien-hirst-3219_always_i-always-look-at-money-not-as-a-motivati_38774.jpg) > “I always look at money not as a motivating factor but as an element in the composition. You can't ignore it, but you've got to be very careful that it's not motivating you.” [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Money should be treated as a structural component of a project, not as the primary driver of effort or creativity. **In simple terms:** Money as a tool, not a motivator. Key Takeaway Use money wisely, avoid letting it dictate purpose. Themes Motivation Values Finance Creativity Ethics Mood Thoughtful Reflective Pragmatic Type Philosophical Advisory When to use this quote - Starting a new business - Planning an art installation - Managing a nonprofit budget Key Concepts Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation Resource allocation Artistic integrity Practical Applications - Strategic budgeting - Setting non‑financial goals Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure money supports rather than dominates your goals? - What non‑financial metrics could replace profit as success indicators? A Different Perspective Some argue that financial incentives can spark innovation and attract talent, which contradicts the view that money must stay peripheral. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Motivating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivating/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [Money is not a motivating factor. Money doesn't thrill me or make me play better because there are benefits to being wealthy. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/money-is-not-a-motivating-factor-money-doesn-t-thrill-me-or-make-me/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [Money is not a motivating factor. I do what comes to me at that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-maradona/money-is-not-a-motivating-factor-i-do-what-comes-to-me-at-that-moment/) [Diego Maradona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-maradona/) > [Money is always a motivating factor, but money has never been my driving force. In my first fight, I paid the promoter in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-alvarez/money-is-always-a-motivating-factor-but-money-has-never-been-my/) [Eddie Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-alvarez/) > [Money is not the motivating force. It's nice to have money, but I don't live high. What I enjoy is running the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/money-is-not-the-motivating-force-it-s-nice-to-have-money-but-i-don-t/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [The fear of letting people down - that's the drive. Sir Alex, I think, if he was brave enough to say it, he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/the-fear-of-letting-people-down-that-s-the-drive-sir-alex-i-think-if/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [The best motivating factor of all, however, is divine intervention, or what I like to call The Magic of Grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/the-best-motivating-factor-of-all-however-is-divine-intervention-or/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [The motivating factor behind God's redemptive plan for every man and woman is His love for us. He not only loves us, He so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-s-hawkins/the-motivating-factor-behind-god-s-redemptive-plan-for-every-man-and/) [O. S. Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-s-hawkins/) > [Fear is not a motivating factor. You might be able to get a little bit more out of someone in the short term, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-grossman/fear-is-not-a-motivating-factor-you-might-be-able-to-get-a-little-bit/) [Mindy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-grossman/) > [Poverty was the greatest motivating factor in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-dean/poverty-was-the-greatest-motivating-factor-in-my-life/) [Jimmy Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-dean/) > [When accepting or preparing for a role, fear is the motivating factor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-brolin/when-accepting-or-preparing-for-a-role-fear-is-the-motivating-factor/) [Josh Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-brolin/) > [If compassion was the motivating factor behind all of our decisions, would our world not be a completely different place?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/if-compassion-was-the-motivating-factor-behind-all-of-our-decisions/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Being able to hear someone say, 'I found an incredible job on The Muse,' or 'It gave me courage to make a career change,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/being-able-to-hear-someone-say-i-found-an-incredible-job-on-the-muse/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [I have an impact and people look up to me now. It's more than the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-baby/i-have-an-impact-and-people-look-up-to-me-now-it-s-more-than-the-money/) [Lil Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-baby/) > [I look at the money I'm about to spend on myself and ask if IKEA's customers could afford it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingvar-kamprad/i-look-at-the-money-i-m-about-to-spend-on-myself-and-ask-if-ikea-s/) [Ingvar Kamprad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingvar-kamprad/) > [I don't look at money as success. I look at it as an avenue to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scooter-braun/i-don-t-look-at-money-as-success-i-look-at-it-as-an-avenue-to-freedom/) [Scooter Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scooter-braun/) ## More by Damien Hirst > [Art goes on in your head. If you said something interesting, that might be a title for a work of art and I'd write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/art-goes-on-in-your-head-if-you-said-something-interesting-that-might/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [Even as a kid in drawing class, I had real ambition. I wanted to be the best in the class, but there was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/even-as-a-kid-in-drawing-class-i-had-real-ambition-i-wanted-to-be-the/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [Since I was a child, death is definitely something that I think about every day. But I think that everybody does. You try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/since-i-was-a-child-death-is-definitely-something-that-i-think-about/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [But I think it's more that when you're young, you're invincible, you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/but-i-think-it-s-more-that-when-you-re-young-you-re-invincible-you-re/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [Museums are for dead artists. I'd never show my work in the Tate. You'd never get me in that place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/museums-are-for-dead-artists-i-d-never-show-my-work-in-the-tate-you-d/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [No, I don't believe in genius. I believe in freedom. I think anyone can do it. Anyone can be like Rembrandt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/no-i-don-t-believe-in-genius-i-believe-in-freedom-i-think-anyone-can/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [Never let money get in the way of an idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/never-let-money-get-in-the-way-of-an-idea/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [I did a butterfly show in Berlin, and we had a guy who's an expert on butterflies; who bred them all and who looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/i-did-a-butterfly-show-in-berlin-and-we-had-a-guy-who-s-an-expert-on/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [There's no possible way you can get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/there-s-no-possible-way-you-can-get-what-you-want/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [I believe all painting and art should be uplifting for the viewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/i-believe-all-painting-and-art-should-be-uplifting-for-the-viewer/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [If the choice is between buying another building or a Pollock, I'd go for the Pollock every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/if-the-choice-is-between-buying-another-building-or-a-pollock-i-d-go/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [Picasso, Michelangelo, possibly, might be verging on genius, but I don't think a painter like Rembrandt is a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/picasso-michelangelo-possibly-might-be-verging-on-genius-but-i-don-t/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [Making art, good art, is always a struggle. It can make you happy when you pull it off. There's no better feeling. It's beauteous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/making-art-good-art-is-always-a-struggle-it-can-make-you-happy-when/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [So smoking is the perfect way to commit suicide without actually dying. I smoke because it's bad, it's really simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/so-smoking-is-the-perfect-way-to-commit-suicide-without-actually/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [I have always been aware that you have to get people listening before you can change their minds. Any artist's big fear is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/i-have-always-been-aware-that-you-have-to-get-people-listening-before/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) [Explore all 136 Damien Hirst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always look at money not as a motivating factor but as an element in the composition. 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