--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only when a person has his own…" description: "\"It is only when a person has his own generator that we can talk about motivation. He then needs no outside stimulation. He wants to do it.\" — Frederick..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/frederick-herzberg-44457_generator_it-is-only-when-a-person-has-his-own-gen_1764513.png" --- # It is only when a person has his own generator that we can… ![“It is only when a person has his own generator that we can talk about motivation. He then needs no outside stimulation. He wants to do it.” quote by Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/frederick-herzberg-44457_generator_it-is-only-when-a-person-has-his-own-gen_1764513.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/frederick-herzberg-44457_generator_it-is-only-when-a-person-has-his-own-gen_1764513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/frederick-herzberg-44457_generator_it-is-only-when-a-person-has-his-own-gen_1764513.png) > “It is only when a person has his own generator that we can talk about motivation. He then needs no outside stimulation. He wants to do it.” [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motivation is intrinsic when a person creates their own purpose, needing no external push. **In simple terms:** Self‑driven purpose fuels action without outside pressure. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal purpose. Themes motivation intrinsic purpose Mood determined reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - entrepreneurship - creative projects Key Concepts self‑determination theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What purpose can you generate for yourself? - How do you sustain motivation when external validation fades? A Different Perspective External rewards may still be needed for sustained effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [That's the easy part, to continue to do what you love, to focus, to train, there's no extra motivation that needs to be added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-heath/that-s-the-easy-part-to-continue-to-do-what-you-love-to-focus-to/) [Tobin Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-heath/) > [Motivation needs to be a part of your own life for you to be effective in conveying it to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/motivation-needs-to-be-a-part-of-your-own-life-for-you-to-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [People want a cop-out, listen I'm a realist and I talk about motivation, talk about all the things it takes to be greater or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ditka/people-want-a-cop-out-listen-i-m-a-realist-and-i-talk-about/) [Mike Ditka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ditka/) > [There's always a lot of talk about motivation to race, but nobody really knows what I do or what I think apart from myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimi-raikkonen/there-s-always-a-lot-of-talk-about-motivation-to-race-but-nobody/) [Kimi Raikkonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimi-raikkonen/) > [I've been on both sides; I've interviewed people, and I do an okay job, I guess. But it's awful. Because you feel like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/i-ve-been-on-both-sides-i-ve-interviewed-people-and-i-do-an-okay-job/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [What we saw was that the Ferguson Police Department in conjunction with the municipality saw traffic stops, arrests, tickets as a revenue generator, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-saw-was-that-the-ferguson-police-department-in-conjunction/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Love is the main generator of all good writing... Love, passion, compassion, are all welded together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/love-is-the-main-generator-of-all-good-writing-love-passion/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [More primordial than any idea, beauty will be manifest as the herald and generator or ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/more-primordial-than-any-idea-beauty-will-be-manifest-as-the-herald/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [I'm not a craftsman of graphics or art or film. I'm more of an idea generator and manufacturer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/i-m-not-a-craftsman-of-graphics-or-art-or-film-i-m-more-of-an-idea/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [ History is opaque. You see what comes out, not the script that produces events, \[...\] The generator of historical events is different from the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/history-is-opaque-you-see-what-comes-out-not-the-script-that-produces/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Without faith to act as a governor, the human mind is a runaway worry generator, a dynamo of negative expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/without-faith-to-act-as-a-governor-the-human-mind-is-a-runaway-worry/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [To the extent that movies get released, they are generally not big box-office generators. Hollywood is clearly focusing on their holiday releases coming up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-arnold/to-the-extent-that-movies-get-released-they-are-generally-not-big-box/) [Tom Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-arnold/) > [What are the top 20 universities in the world that do good materials research that might create carbon fibers to do jet stream kites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/what-are-the-top-20-universities-in-the-world-that-do-good-materials/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The nuclear generator of brain sludge is television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-nuclear-generator-of-brain-sludge-is-television/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [ With recidivism algorithms, for example, I worry about racist outcomes. With personality tests \[for hiring\], I worry about filtering out people with mental health… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/with-recidivism-algorithms-for-example-i-worry-about-racist-outcomes/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) ## More by Frederick Herzberg > [True motivation comes from achievement, personal development, job satisfaction, and recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/true-motivation-comes-from-achievement-personal-development-job/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) > [If you want someone to do a good job, give them a good job to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/if-you-want-someone-to-do-a-good-job-give-them-a-good-job-to-do/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) > [It's the job of a manager not to light the fire of motivation, but to create an environment to let each person's personal spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/it-s-the-job-of-a-manager-not-to-light-the-fire-of-motivation-but-to/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) > [You cannot love an employee into creativity, although you can ... avoid his dissatisfactions with the way you treat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/you-cannot-love-an-employee-into-creativity-although-you-can-avoid/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) > [Man does work for profit in order to enjoy pain; but in a positive sense, he works to enjoy the excitement and meaning that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/man-does-work-for-profit-in-order-to-enjoy-pain-but-in-a-positive/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) > [Idleness, indifference and irresponsibility are healthy responses to absurd work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/idleness-indifference-and-irresponsibility-are-healthy-responses-to/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) > [A reward once given becomes a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/a-reward-once-given-becomes-a-right/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) > [Frederick Herzberg, asserts that the powerful motivator in our lives isn't money; it's the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-herzberg/frederick-herzberg-asserts-that-the-powerful-motivator-in-our-lives/) [Frederick Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) [Explore all 9 Frederick Herzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-herzberg/) ## More Generator quotes > [ With recidivism algorithms, for example, I worry about racist outcomes. With personality tests \[for hiring\], I worry about filtering out people with mental health… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/with-recidivism-algorithms-for-example-i-worry-about-racist-outcomes/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The nuclear generator of brain sludge is television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-nuclear-generator-of-brain-sludge-is-television/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [What are the top 20 universities in the world that do good materials research that might create carbon fibers to do jet stream kites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/what-are-the-top-20-universities-in-the-world-that-do-good-materials/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [To the extent that movies get released, they are generally not big box-office generators. Hollywood is clearly focusing on their holiday releases coming up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-arnold/to-the-extent-that-movies-get-released-they-are-generally-not-big-box/) [Tom Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-arnold/) > [Without faith to act as a governor, the human mind is a runaway worry generator, a dynamo of negative expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/without-faith-to-act-as-a-governor-the-human-mind-is-a-runaway-worry/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [ History is opaque. You see what comes out, not the script that produces events, \[...\] The generator of historical events is different from the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/history-is-opaque-you-see-what-comes-out-not-the-script-that-produces/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I'm not a craftsman of graphics or art or film. I'm more of an idea generator and manufacturer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/i-m-not-a-craftsman-of-graphics-or-art-or-film-i-m-more-of-an-idea/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [More primordial than any idea, beauty will be manifest as the herald and generator or ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/more-primordial-than-any-idea-beauty-will-be-manifest-as-the-herald/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [Love is the main generator of all good writing... Love, passion, compassion, are all welded together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/love-is-the-main-generator-of-all-good-writing-love-passion/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [What we saw was that the Ferguson Police Department in conjunction with the municipality saw traffic stops, arrests, tickets as a revenue generator, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-saw-was-that-the-ferguson-police-department-in-conjunction/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“-It's a completely mad idea, I know. But my brain is a hope-making engine. -I'm so glad. Mine is a worst-case-scenario generator”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/it-s-a-completely-mad-idea-i-know-but-my-brain-is-a-hope-making/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [We want to change the identity of Delhi from Generator Capital to Power Generation Capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-change-the-identity-of-delhi-from-generator-capital-to/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Even as a kid I was never the generator of humor, but I always knew who was funny, who to hang out with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/even-as-a-kid-i-was-never-the-generator-of-humor-but-i-always-knew/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [Creative writing and shooting are muscles that atrophy. But when you work them, you become a self-generator who can branch out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/creative-writing-and-shooting-are-muscles-that-atrophy-but-when-you/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [We wind a simple ring of iron with coils; we establish the connections to the generator, and with wonder and delight we note the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/we-wind-a-simple-ring-of-iron-with-coils-we-establish-the-connections/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) Browse all 66 Generator quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is only when a person has his own generator that we can talk about motivation. He then needs no outside stimulation. 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