--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A very tall man once asked a question…" description: "\"A very tall man once asked a question after my talk. Before beginning his question, he explained that the reason he was standing up is not to be intimi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/nomy-arpaly-21717_action_a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-af_2002960.jpg" --- # A very tall man once asked a question after my talk… ![“A very tall man once asked a question after my talk. Before beginning his question, he explained that the reason he was standing up is not to be intimidating but rather to make eye contact. His question was essentially "are we really interested in moral motives? Isn't it all about action?". I…” quote by Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/nomy-arpaly-21717_action_a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-af_2002960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/nomy-arpaly-21717_action_a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-af_2002960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/nomy-arpaly-21717_action_a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-af_2002960.jpg) > “A very tall man once asked a question after my talk. Before beginning his question, he explained that the reason he was standing up is not to be intimidating but rather to make eye contact. His question was essentially "are we really interested in moral motives? Isn't it all about action?". I pointed out to him that it was not enough for him to do the right thing - stand up - but he also wanted me to know that he is doing it from the right motive or for the right reason - to make eye contact, rather than to be intimidating. Voila, moral psychology.” [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral actions are judged by both the act and the underlying intention; right motives matter as much as right deeds **In simple terms:** Both action and motive are essential for moral worth Key Takeaway Align actions with sincere motives Themes ethics motivation psychology Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Academic discussions - personal integrity - leadership decisions Key Concepts Moral philosophy intentionality Questions to Reflect On - What motives drive your daily actions? - How can you ensure motives are authentic? A Different Perspective Motive assessment can be subjective and hard to verify ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eye contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-contact/) [Interested Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-moral-3535105/) [Intimidating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidating/) [Man Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-asked/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Motives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-motives-420558/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-standing-3535107/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Standing Intimidating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-intimidating-3535106/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes friends can let us down, but once in a while they are the only reason that we are standing up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-friends-can-let-us-down-but-once-in-a-while-they-are-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [we make a great fuss about national conscience, but it consists mainly in insisting upon everyone ascribing our national policy to highly moral motives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/we-make-a-great-fuss-about-national-conscience-but-it-consists-mainly/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [Ethics are not necessarily to do with being law-abiding. I am very interested in the moral path, doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/ethics-are-not-necessarily-to-do-with-being-law-abiding-i-am-very/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [In football a man was asked to do a difficult and brutal job, and he either did it or got out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-exley/in-football-a-man-was-asked-to-do-a-difficult-and-brutal-job-and-he/) [Frederick Exley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-exley/) > [“A man once asked me ... how I managed in my books to write such natural conversation between men when they were by themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/a-man-once-asked-me-how-i-managed-in-my-books-to-write-such-natural/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“A man is granted one question when god appears before him. How much do I have," the man asked, "before I die?" Enough time,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-fletcher/a-man-is-granted-one-question-when-god-appears-before-him-how-much-do/) [Carole Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-fletcher/) > [“Ahoy there, Lord Pegleg!" cried the Fool. "Why are you hopping on one foot?" "And what would you have do on one foot?" the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/ahoy-there-lord-pegleg-cried-the-fool-why-are-you-hopping-on-one-foot/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“How's your head?" the larger man asked. "Do me a favor and cut it off," Black muttered. "It's more pain than it's worth right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-owens/how-s-your-head-the-larger-man-asked-do-me-a-favor-and-cut-it-off/) [Tricia Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-owens/) > [“I like the fact that he's five-foot six.” “Really?” the young man asked incredulously. “Yes,” she nodded. “I've five-foot three so he's just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-j-ethridge/i-like-the-fact-that-he-s-five-foot-six-really-the-young-man-asked/) [Aaron J. Ethridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-j-ethridge/) > [“Nobody in this building asked to be born. You didn’t ask to be you, bro. I didn’t ask to be me. I didn’t ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccartney/nobody-in-this-building-asked-to-be-born-you-didn-t-ask-to-be-you-bro/) [Brandon McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccartney/) > [A wise man once asked me, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" I thought for a minute, then I slapped him across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-diamond/a-wise-man-once-asked-me-what-is-the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping-i/) [Matthew Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-diamond/) > [“It is as if a man were asked, 'What is the use of a hammer?' and answered, 'To make hammers'; and when asked, 'And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-as-if-a-man-were-asked-what-is-the-use-of-a-hammer-and-answered/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Then the old man's face hardened. "What about you young man?" he asked flatly. "Would you like to get what you deserve?" Jones let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/then-the-old-man-s-face-hardened-what-about-you-young-man-he-asked/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [The man who is asked by an author what he thinks of his work is put to the torture and is not obliged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-man-who-is-asked-by-an-author-what-he-thinks-of-his-work-is-put/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## More by Nomy Arpaly > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [Other things being equal, ill will is worse than moral indifference (as in causing suffering for money vs causing suffering to cause suffering), though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/other-things-being-equal-ill-will-is-worse-than-moral-indifference-as/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [Duties concern things that are voluntary. I do think that if you have a moral duty to bring me back the book you borrowed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/duties-concern-things-that-are-voluntary-i-do-think-that-if-you-have/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [Sometimes I suspect that there are two prototypes of philosophers who write about humans - I call them "celestials" and "terrestrials", without implying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/sometimes-i-suspect-that-there-are-two-prototypes-of-philosophers-who/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [When you find yourself reluctant to sit on a chair because it had unexpectedly collapsed in the past you might shake your head and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/when-you-find-yourself-reluctant-to-sit-on-a-chair-because-it-had/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [If I make a stupid decision but don't execute it because I'm, say, lazy, then I'm lucky, not rational. However, at other times a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/if-i-make-a-stupid-decision-but-don-t-execute-it-because-i-m-say-lazy/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [If I am told my loving you had to happen because of some Freudian stuff about my childhood, that might be degrading or deflationary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/if-i-am-told-my-loving-you-had-to-happen-because-of-some-freudian/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am not committed in any way to the traditional concept of character - the concept of "character trait" as involving predictable behavior. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-not-committed-in-any-way-to-the-traditional-concept-of-character/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I don't think any of my desires or beliefs or other mental states are external to me. Many people will occasionally feel alienated from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-don-t-think-any-of-my-desires-or-beliefs-or-other-mental-states-are/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [Incompatibilists will tell you that a work of art has no meaning unless the artists could have chosen to create a different one, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/incompatibilists-will-tell-you-that-a-work-of-art-has-no-meaning/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [Though we think intrinsic desires tend to be pretty stable, we do not think they imply anything like the amount of predictability in behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/though-we-think-intrinsic-desires-tend-to-be-pretty-stable-we-do-not/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [Suppose a student of mine writes in her exam that "morality is completely relative to culture, so nothing is absolutely right or wrong. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/suppose-a-student-of-mine-writes-in-her-exam-that-morality-is/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I don't think we are all irrational every time we fail to see through an argument in a book, but suppose it's true about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-don-t-think-we-are-all-irrational-every-time-we-fail-to-see-through/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I think it's ok to have wishes that conflict with each other - it's irrational to try to make them both come true, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-think-it-s-ok-to-have-wishes-that-conflict-with-each-other-it-s/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [When I see two owls and then two more owls and conclude that I see four owls, I am responding to reasons, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/when-i-see-two-owls-and-then-two-more-owls-and-conclude-that-i-see/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) [Explore all 28 Nomy Arpaly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A very tall man once asked a question after my talk. Before beginning his question, he explained that the reason he was standing up is not to be intimidating but rather to make eye contact. His question was essentially \"are we really interested in moral motives? Isn't it all about action?\". I pointed out to him that it was not enough for him to do the right thing - stand up - but he also wanted me to know that he is doing it from the right motive or for the right reason - to make eye contact, rather than to be intimidating. Voila, moral psychology.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nomy Arpaly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-after-my-talk-before-beginning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-after-my-talk-before-beginning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/nomy-arpaly-21717_action_a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-af_2002960.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/nomy-arpaly-21717_action_a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-af_2002960.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/nomy-arpaly-21717_action_a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-af_2002960.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A very tall man once asked a question after my talk. Before beginning his question, he explained that the…” — Nomy Arpaly", "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": "Nomy Arpaly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A very tall man once asked...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-after-my-talk-before-beginning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/a-very-tall-man-once-asked-a-question-after-my-talk-before-beginning/#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 } } ] } ```