--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever be the motives which induce men…" description: "\"Whatever be the motives which induce men to write,--whether avarice or fame,--the country becomes more wise and happy in which they most serve for inst..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/oliver-goldsmith-772_authorship_whatever-be-the-motives-which-induce-men_2075085.png" --- # Whatever be the motives which induce men to… ![“Whatever be the motives which induce men to write,--whether avarice or fame,--the country becomes more wise and happy in which they most serve for instructors.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/oliver-goldsmith-772_authorship_whatever-be-the-motives-which-induce-men_2075085.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/oliver-goldsmith-772_authorship_whatever-be-the-motives-which-induce-men_2075085.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/oliver-goldsmith-772_authorship_whatever-be-the-motives-which-induce-men_2075085.png) > “Whatever be the motives which induce men to write,--whether avarice or fame,--the country becomes more wise and happy in which they most serve for instructors.” [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motives behind writing, whether selfish or noble, shape a society’s wisdom and happiness. **In simple terms:** Writing motives impact society. Key Takeaway Consider the purpose of your words. Themes literature motivation societal impact Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - education - political discourse - media - public speaking Key Concepts ethics communication influence Questions to Reflect On - What drives your writing? - How do readers interpret your motives? A Different Perspective Good intentions can be misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authorship/) [Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Instructors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instructors/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Motives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motives/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The only motive strong enough to induce men to exercise the self control required by the religion of Jesus is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/the-only-motive-strong-enough-to-induce-men-to-exercise-the-self/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balguy/contentment-is-a-pearl-of-great-price-and-whoever-procures-it-at-the/) John Balguy > [When one is wise two are happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russyb/when-one-is-wise-two-are-happy/) Russyb > [“The river was beautiful and wise. There were the two of them being happy in a new way. 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Men write about bad men all the time, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/that-s-always-been-part-of-my-goal-to-show-the-dark-side-of-women-men/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [The men who act stand nearer to the mass of man than the men who write; and it is in their hands that new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-men-who-act-stand-nearer-to-the-mass-of-man-than-the-men-who/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“Men may write fictions portraying lowly life as it is, or as it is not—may expatiate with owlish gravity upon the bliss of ignorance—discourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/men-may-write-fictions-portraying-lowly-life-as-it-is-or-as-it-is-not/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) ## More by Oliver Goldsmith > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [How happy he who crowns in shades like these, A youth of labour with an age of ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/how-happy-he-who-crowns-in-shades-like-these-a-youth-of-labour-with/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [One man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and the other with a wooden ladle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/one-man-is-born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth-and-the-other-with-a/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/he-cast-off-his-friends-as-a-huntsman-his-pack-for-he-knew-when-he/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/even-children-follow-d-with-endearing-wile-and-pluck-d-his-gown-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [The premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe that the concatenation of self-existence, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produces a problematical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-premises-being-thus-settled-i-proceed-to-observe-that-the/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/truth-from-his-lips-prevailed-with-double-sway-and-fools-who-came-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/to-what-fortuitous-occurrence-do-we-not-owe-every-pleasure-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/every-acknowledgment-of-gratitude-is-a-circumstance-of-humiliation/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [ \[T\]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. 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