---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone does what they believe they need…"
description: "\"Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order to survive in this business, 'survive' being the operative word.\" — Joe Morton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/joe-morton-3905_being_everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-nee_318335.png"
---

#  Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order…

![“Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order to survive in this business, 'survive' being the operative word.” quote by Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/joe-morton-3905_being_everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-nee_318335.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/joe-morton-3905_being_everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-nee_318335.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/joe-morton-3905_being_everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-nee_318335.png)

> “Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order to survive in this business, 'survive' being the operative word.”

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People act according to what they think is necessary for survival, often compromising ethics in competitive environments.

**In simple terms:** Survival drives behavior in business.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with values, not just survival.

Themes

ethics survival business

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- entrepreneurship
- corporate culture
- career decisions
- negotiations

Key Concepts

moral psychology organizational behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- What values guide your professional decisions?
- How do you balance survival with integrity?

A Different Perspective

Survival instinct can justify harmful choices.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/)

## Related quotes

> [“She wasn’t defined by what she had to do in order to survive. None of them were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/she-wasn-t-defined-by-what-she-had-to-do-in-order-to-survive-none-of/)

[Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/)

> [I am always writing; if you want to survive in this business, you need to keep working, keep creating and never stop the output.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-am-always-writing-if-you-want-to-survive-in-this-business-you-need/)

[Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/)

> [A small business can survive for a while without making a profit, but if its cashflow dries up, the impact is fatal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/a-small-business-can-survive-for-a-while-without-making-a-profit-but/)

[Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/)

> [In Indian companies, people aren't too worried about the pace of growth as long as you're setting up a business which will survive for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/in-indian-companies-people-aren-t-too-worried-about-the-pace-of/)

[Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/)

> [The Internet means everything to everybody and it's growing by the day. You can't survive as a business, especially a small business, without having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-internet-means-everything-to-everybody-and-it-s-growing-by-the/)

[Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/)

> [I have to motivate myself to give my best each day in order to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/i-have-to-motivate-myself-to-give-my-best-each-day-in-order-to-survive/)

[Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/)

> [There are two key lessons: a) The only way to survive in business is to be profitable, unless you have an unlimited amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/there-are-two-key-lessons-a-the-only-way-to-survive-in-business-is-to/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [No coach can really survive very well in this business without support from his family and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/no-coach-can-really-survive-very-well-in-this-business-without/)

[Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/)

> [You must change in order to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-bailey/you-must-change-in-order-to-survive/)

[Pearl Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-bailey/)

> [If you are going to survive in business, show business or any business, then you have to be bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-ferguson/if-you-are-going-to-survive-in-business-show-business-or-any-business/)

[Rebecca Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-ferguson/)

> [Comedy is an amazing calling. Once you get that first laugh, it's hard to turn away. Then, of course, you're hooked and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/comedy-is-an-amazing-calling-once-you-get-that-first-laugh-it-s-hard/)

[Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/)

> [People will do and think whatever it is they have to in order to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-plum-ucci/people-will-do-and-think-whatever-it-is-they-have-to-in-order-to/)

[Carol Plum-Ucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-plum-ucci/)

> [And after a while, I learn that I dont need anyone else in order to survive. No one is ever going to always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-supremacy/and-after-a-while-i-learn-that-i-dont-need-anyone-else-in-order-to/)

Raj Supremacy

> [My faith in the fact that God can organize and has this overall plan is what's really helped me hold on. It's a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-joy-galeotti/my-faith-in-the-fact-that-god-can-organize-and-has-this-overall-plan/)

[Bethany Joy Galeotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-joy-galeotti/)

> [If civilization is going to survive, business and policy-makers must move on, to find within themselves more developed emotions than fear or greed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/if-civilization-is-going-to-survive-business-and-policy-makers-must/)

[Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/)

## More by Joe Morton

> [I guess on one hand I believe it doesn't matter if there is life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-guess-on-one-hand-i-believe-it-doesn-t-matter-if-there-is-life/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [I love doing theater. Despite the fact that out of theater, film, and TV, theater is the hardest thing to do. It's the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-love-doing-theater-despite-the-fact-that-out-of-theater-film-and-tv/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [The more you know about the world, the more resources you have in terms of things that can inform your character or the circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-more-you-know-about-the-world-the-more-resources-you-have-in/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [Basically, the actor's job is to pay attention to the script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/basically-the-actor-s-job-is-to-pay-attention-to-the-script/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [One of the beauties of working in Shondaland is that they make an effort to get to know who you are, so they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/one-of-the-beauties-of-working-in-shondaland-is-that-they-make-an/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [I think the greatest lesson that power has to teach us is, once you've had it, once you are a part of it, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-the-greatest-lesson-that-power-has-to-teach-us-is-once-you-ve/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [Republicans in the South... are trying to find ways, not so much to block black and brown people from voting, but to block black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/republicans-in-the-south-are-trying-to-find-ways-not-so-much-to-block/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [You make up your mind what part you want to read for and why. It's kept me focused - on what's important, what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/you-make-up-your-mind-what-part-you-want-to-read-for-and-why-it-s/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [Race prejudice has nothing to do with color. It has to do with being the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/race-prejudice-has-nothing-to-do-with-color-it-has-to-do-with-being/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [It's important to know, whether you're pro or anti the current president and what he's doing, that he's doing what he thinks is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/it-s-important-to-know-whether-you-re-pro-or-anti-the-current/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [I think that, unfortunately, it appears that Donald Trump is trampling all over the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-that-unfortunately-it-appears-that-donald-trump-is-trampling/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [I think many villains have the burden of not being very human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-many-villains-have-the-burden-of-not-being-very-human/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [The argument for '12 Years a Slave' was that - yes, it's a beautiful film. Beautifully shot, beautifully acted. It's a real story, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-argument-for-12-years-a-slave-was-that-yes-it-s-a-beautiful-film/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [Hollywood has successfully produced many films framed by anti-racist or pro-integrationist story lines. I'm going to guess that since 'Gone With The Wind,' Hollywood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/hollywood-has-successfully-produced-many-films-framed-by-anti-racist/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

[Explore all 119 Joe Morton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

## More Being quotes

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [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/)

> [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/)

[Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/)

[Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/)

[Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/)

[Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/)

[Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order to survive in this business, 'survive' being the operative word.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joe Morton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-need-to-do-in-order-to-survive/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-need-to-do-in-order-to-survive/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/joe-morton-3905_being_everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-nee_318335.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/joe-morton-3905_being_everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-nee_318335.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/joe-morton-3905_being_everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-nee_318335.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order to survive in this business, 'survive' being the…” — Joe Morton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Joe Morton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Everyone does what they believe they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-need-to-do-in-order-to-survive/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-need-to-do-in-order-to-survive/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
