--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think it's a Western thing to…" description: "\"I don't think it's a Western thing to really talk about intrinsic motivation and the drive for autonomy, mastery and purpose. You have to not be strugg..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/daniel-h-pink-1532_autonomy_i-don-t-think-it-s-a-western-thing-to-re_1413479.jpg" --- # I don't think it's a Western thing to really talk about… ![“I don't think it's a Western thing to really talk about intrinsic motivation and the drive for autonomy, mastery and purpose. You have to not be struggling for survival. For people who don't know where their next meal is coming, notions of finding inner motivation are comical.” quote by Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/daniel-h-pink-1532_autonomy_i-don-t-think-it-s-a-western-thing-to-re_1413479.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/daniel-h-pink-1532_autonomy_i-don-t-think-it-s-a-western-thing-to-re_1413479.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/daniel-h-pink-1532_autonomy_i-don-t-think-it-s-a-western-thing-to-re_1413479.jpg) > “I don't think it's a Western thing to really talk about intrinsic motivation and the drive for autonomy, mastery and purpose. You have to not be struggling for survival. For people who don't know where their next meal is coming, notions of finding inner motivation are comical.” [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intrinsic motivation thrives when basic survival needs are met; without security, concepts of autonomy, mastery, and purpose feel absurd. **In simple terms:** Motivation needs security first. Key Takeaway Ensure basic needs before seeking higher drives. Themes motivation security human needs autonomy Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - poverty alleviation - education programs - workplace design - mental health services Key Concepts Maslow hierarchy self-determination theory Questions to Reflect On - How does survival affect your drive? - Can purpose emerge in scarcity? A Different Perspective People in crisis may still find purpose despite hardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Intrinsic motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrinsic-motivation/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [For artists, scientists, inventors, schoolchildren, and the rest of us, intrinsic motivation-the drive to do something because it is interesting, challenging, and absorbing-is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-artists-scientists-inventors-schoolchildren-and-the-rest-of-us/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Don't judge my problems when you don't know my purpose. I'm only struggling now so I can pull you through later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bishop-noel-jones/don-t-judge-my-problems-when-you-don-t-know-my-purpose-i-m-only/) Bishop Noel Jones > [At school, new ideas are thrust at you every day. Out in the world, you'll have to find your inner motivation to seek for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/at-school-new-ideas-are-thrust-at-you-every-day-out-in-the-world-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [My inner motivation is to make the world a better place; the bad guy and the good guy think the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/my-inner-motivation-is-to-make-the-world-a-better-place-the-bad-guy/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [“Careful consideration of reward effects reported in 128 experiments lead to the conclusion that tangible rewards tend to have a substantially negative effect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/careful-consideration-of-reward-effects-reported-in-128-experiments/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Of course, the starting point for any discussion of motivation in the workplace is a simple fact of life: People have to earn a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/of-course-the-starting-point-for-any-discussion-of-motivation-in-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Intrinsic motivation is conducive to creativity; controlling extrinsic motivation is detrimental to creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/intrinsic-motivation-is-conducive-to-creativity-controlling-extrinsic/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Goals may cause systematic problems for organizations due to narrowed focus, unethical behavior, increased risk taking, decreased cooperation, and decreased intrinsic motivation. Use care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/goals-may-cause-systematic-problems-for-organizations-due-to-narrowed/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Money can extinguish intrinsic motivation, diminish performance, crush creativity, encourage unethical behavior, foster short-term thinking, and become addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/money-can-extinguish-intrinsic-motivation-diminish-performance-crush/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Intrinsic motivation is of great importance for all economic activities. It is inconceivable that people are motivated solely or even mainly by external incentives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/intrinsic-motivation-is-of-great-importance-for-all-economic/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Rewards do not undermine people’s intrinsic motivation for dull tasks because there is little or no intrinsic motivation to be undermined.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/rewards-do-not-undermine-people-s-intrinsic-motivation-for-dull-tasks/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Self motivation & drive are biggest tool to make one to achieve his desire goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/self-motivation-drive-are-biggest-tool-to-make-one-to-achieve-his/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [My being in America and being adopted from the Philippines have given me motivation and drive as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/my-being-in-america-and-being-adopted-from-the-philippines-have-given/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [“If you have the right motivation, drive, and inspiration, you WILL succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-basevic/if-you-have-the-right-motivation-drive-and-inspiration-you-will/) [Mike Basevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-basevic/) > [What you have to have is motivation and you have to have drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/what-you-have-to-have-is-motivation-and-you-have-to-have-drive/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) ## More by Daniel H. Pink > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“morning people to be pleasant, productive folks—“introverted,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/morning-people-to-be-pleasant-productive-folks-introverted/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“tweeters felt active, engaged, and hopeful—generally rose in the morning, plummeted in the afternoon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/tweeters-felt-active-engaged-and-hopeful-generally-rose-in-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The longer it takes for a boss to respond to their e-mails, the less satisfied people are with their leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-longer-it-takes-for-a-boss-to-respond-to-their-e-mails-the-less/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-creative-tasks-the-best-approach-is-often-just-to-hire-great/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The less evidence of extrinsic motivation during art school, the more success in professional art both several years after graduation and nearly twenty years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-less-evidence-of-extrinsic-motivation-during-art-school-the-more/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you look at the very best presidents, the most effective presidents, they were always decent salespeople. Ronald Reagan was an extremely effective salesman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-you-look-at-the-very-best-presidents-the-most-effective-presidents/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“the more they chat and gossip—the more they get done”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-more-they-chat-and-gossip-the-more-they-get-done/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“continuing to think about job demands during breaks may result in strain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/continuing-to-think-about-job-demands-during-breaks-may-result-in/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The quality of the problem that is found is a forerunner of the quality of the solution that is attained . . .” Getzels concluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-quality-of-the-problem-that-is-found-is-a-forerunner-of-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“innovation and creativity are greatest when we are not at our best”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/innovation-and-creativity-are-greatest-when-we-are-not-at-our-best/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Temporal landmarks slow our thinking, allowing us to deliberate at a higher level and make better decisions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/temporal-landmarks-slow-our-thinking-allowing-us-to-deliberate-at-a/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Jobs that offer autonomy but little challenge bore us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/jobs-that-offer-autonomy-but-little-challenge-bore-us/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“richest experiences in our lives aren’t when we’re clamoring for validation from others, but when we’re listening to our own voice—doing something that matters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/richest-experiences-in-our-lives-aren-t-when-we-re-clamoring-for/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) [Explore all 230 Daniel H. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More Autonomy quotes > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [“The idea of autonomy denies that we are born into a world that existed prior to us. It posits an essential aloneness; an autonomous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/the-idea-of-autonomy-denies-that-we-are-born-into-a-world-that/) [Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/) [Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [“Autonomous people assert themselves against the status quo. They don't accept the prevailing opinion just because it's the one given to them. Nothing creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brito/autonomous-people-assert-themselves-against-the-status-quo-they-don-t/) Maria Brito > [Black people cannot and will not become integrated into American society on any terms but those of self-determination and autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/black-people-cannot-and-will-not-become-integrated-into-american/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who hath desires must ever fearful be; Who lives in fear cannot be counted free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/who-hath-desires-must-ever-fearful-be-who-lives-in-fear-cannot-be/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) [Browse all 418 Autonomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think it's a Western thing to really talk about intrinsic motivation and the drive for autonomy, mastery and purpose. You have to not be struggling for survival. For people who don't know where their next meal is coming, notions of finding inner motivation are comical.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel H. 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