--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like, in general I think people have very…" description: "\"Like, in general I think people have very complicated reasons for wanting things, and we often have no idea whether we’re actually motivated by altruis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc6/john-green-12_altruism_like-in-general-i-think-people-have-very_1277366.jpg" --- # Like, in general I think people have very complicated… ![“Like, in general I think people have very complicated reasons for wanting things, and we often have no idea whether we’re actually motivated by altruism or a desire to hook up or a search for answers or what. I always get annoyed when in books or movies characters want clear things for clear…” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc6/john-green-12_altruism_like-in-general-i-think-people-have-very_1277366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc6/john-green-12_altruism_like-in-general-i-think-people-have-very_1277366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc6/john-green-12_altruism_like-in-general-i-think-people-have-very_1277366.jpg) > “Like, in general I think people have very complicated reasons for wanting things, and we often have no idea whether we’re actually motivated by altruism or a desire to hook up or a search for answers or what. I always get annoyed when in books or movies characters want clear things for clear reasons, because my experience of humanness is that I always want messy things for messy reasons.” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human motivations are complex and mixed, rarely fitting simple, clear-cut explanations. **In simple terms:** People want things for tangled reasons. Key Takeaway Accept ambiguity in motives. Themes psychology human nature motivation Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career choices - creative projects - conflict resolution Key Concepts self‑determination theory intrinsic vs extrinsic ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - What hidden motives shape your decisions? - How do you navigate messy motivations? A Different Perspective Simplifies human behavior, ignoring clear altruistic or selfish drives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altruism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) [Altruism Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism-desire-4115388/) [Annoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoyed/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Complicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated/) [Complicated Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated-reasons-3135438/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Hook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hook/) [Hook up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hook-up/) [Humanness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanness/) [Humanness Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanness-want-4115387/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messy/) [Motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivated/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-wanting-2622875/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanting Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-things-1051605/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes people do things that are complicated. For complicated reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-barnholdt/sometimes-people-do-things-that-are-complicated-for-complicated/) [Lauren Barnholdt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-barnholdt/) > [One of the main reasons for wanting to perform live again was to have contact with that audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/one-of-the-main-reasons-for-wanting-to-perform-live-again-was-to-have/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [Men in particular need to speak more about their personal reasons for wanting diversity in the workplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-silber/men-in-particular-need-to-speak-more-about-their-personal-reasons-for/) [Jane Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-silber/) > [Maxon, this is my gift to you. I promise I will make every effort to see these girls through your eyes. Not the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/maxon-this-is-my-gift-to-you-i-promise-i-will-make-every-effort-to/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [There are good reasons for not wanting to host the Olympics. The Games can be costly and, in spite of their patriotic overtones, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/there-are-good-reasons-for-not-wanting-to-host-the-olympics-the-games/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [I've never known before what it feels like to want someone - not to want to hook up with them or whatever, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-ve-never-known-before-what-it-feels-like-to-want-someone-not-to/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [You just gotta tell her, man,’ I said. ‘You just gotta say, “Angela, I really like you, but there’s something you need to know:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-just-gotta-tell-her-man-i-said-you-just-gotta-say-angela-i-really/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [...after you stop wanting things is when having them won't make you go crazy. After you stop wanting them is when you can handle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/after-you-stop-wanting-things-is-when-having-them-won-t-make-you-go/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I want you and I hate wanting things and I especially hate admitting I want them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-want-you-and-i-hate-wanting-things-and-i-especially-hate-admitting/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [It's weak and despicable to go on wanting things and not trying to get them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-milner/it-s-weak-and-despicable-to-go-on-wanting-things-and-not-trying-to/) [Marion Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-milner/) > [“I’m extra good at wanting things. I want things until I feel sort of sick about them. I want enough for two normal people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-m-extra-good-at-wanting-things-i-want-things-until-i-feel-sort-of/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Even when we get what we addictively want, our wanting to keep things that way automatically creates a new addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-keyes-jr/even-when-we-get-what-we-addictively-want-our-wanting-to-keep-things/) [Ken Keyes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-keyes-jr/) > [“And sometimes, sometimes , wanting things, wishing for, working for them, is a good thing. Otherwise, we become nothing but spoiled boys and girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/and-sometimes-sometimes-wanting-things-wishing-for-working-for-them/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [“I wanted to write “I Want” because wanting is one of the things I want most in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wanted-to-write-i-want-because-wanting-is-one-of-the-things-i-want/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [It's about challenging yourself; wanting to do things that push you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/it-s-about-challenging-yourself-wanting-to-do-things-that-push-you/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Altruism quotes > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“...True classical dropouts in society are those who avoid difficult challenges and cling to the first opportunity that comes their way. They never test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/true-classical-dropouts-in-society-are-those-who-avoid-difficult/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Take a stand that reflects the widest horizons of your soul if you don’t want to be a slave to external powers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/take-a-stand-that-reflects-the-widest-horizons-of-your-soul-if-you/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [One of the great issues in biology is the origin of altruism - of why you would do something for someone else that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/one-of-the-great-issues-in-biology-is-the-origin-of-altruism-of-why/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/how-selfish-soever-man-may-be-supposed-there-are-evidently-some/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Restoration ecology is experimental science, a science of love and altruism. In its attempts to reverse the processes of ecosystem degradation it runs exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/restoration-ecology-is-experimental-science-a-science-of-love-and/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [“...of all the nonsense that twists the world, the concept of 'altruism' is the worst. People do what they want to do, every time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/of-all-the-nonsense-that-twists-the-world-the-concept-of-altruism-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Only a fool would find happiness from an achievement that is detrimental to those he loves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/only-a-fool-would-find-happiness-from-an-achievement-that-is/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/) [Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/) > [“…the purpose of life is to nurture joy, which involves those aspects of humanity that enrich the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-nurture-joy-which-involves-those-aspects-of/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Whatever they say about it, but being altruistic is not so simple for everyone. Not to look and sound like despotism, altruism must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-biyuts/whatever-they-say-about-it-but-being-altruistic-is-not-so-simple-for/) [Lara Biyuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-biyuts/) > [Effective altruism is the form of altruism in which we bring our rational capacities to bear in order to do the most good that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/effective-altruism-is-the-form-of-altruism-in-which-we-bring-our/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Societies and people that come close to being happy are those that do well in narrowing the disparity between their desires and their needs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/societies-and-people-that-come-close-to-being-happy-are-those-that-do/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Most of the truly kind people of this world show some measure of discomfort when offered kindness. Their gratitude stems not only from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/most-of-the-truly-kind-people-of-this-world-show-some-measure-of/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) [Browse all 419 Altruism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like, in general I think people have very complicated reasons for wanting things, and we often have no idea whether we’re actually motivated by altruism or a desire to hook up or a search for answers or what. 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