---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not everybody's actions are based on…"
description: "\"Not everybody's actions are based on ideas. Some people's actions are based on profit.\" — Pavel Durov"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/pavel-durov-8535_based_not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ide_2081227.jpg"
---

#  Not everybody's actions are based on ideas. Some people's…

![“Not everybody's actions are based on ideas. Some people's actions are based on profit.” quote by Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/pavel-durov-8535_based_not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ide_2081227.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/pavel-durov-8535_based_not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ide_2081227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/pavel-durov-8535_based_not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ide_2081227.jpg)

> “Not everybody's actions are based on ideas. Some people's actions are based on profit.”

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

## About This Quote

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

Actions can be driven by practical incentives rather than abstract principles, highlighting the role of self‑interest in behavior.

**In simple terms:** People act for profit, not just ideas.

Key Takeaway

Consider motives behind actions.

Themes

motivation ethics economics

Mood

analytical critical

Type

observational pragmatic

When to use this quote

- business decisions
- political lobbying
- personal finance
- charitable giving

Key Concepts

self‑interest incentive structures

Questions to Reflect On

- What incentives shape your decisions?
- When do profit and principle align?

A Different Perspective

Profit motives can conflict with ethical considerations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based/) [Based Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-ideas-2371921/) [Based Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-profit-4065628/) [Everybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-actions-1297000/) [People'S Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-s-actions/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/)

## Related quotes

> [“Never stand in the way of letting God use people’s actions, in order to solve a greater issue in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/never-stand-in-the-way-of-letting-god-use-people-s-actions-in-order/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [Occupy was not a movement, it was a tactic. You can't sit forever in a park near Wall Street. You can't do it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/occupy-was-not-a-movement-it-was-a-tactic-you-can-t-sit-forever-in-a/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [If we no longer judge the content of people's actions, but merely their form, then we are entering dangerous times indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/if-we-no-longer-judge-the-content-of-people-s-actions-but-merely/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [“There is no one for spying on people's actions like those who are not concerned in them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-no-one-for-spying-on-people-s-actions-like-those-who-are-not/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [People do misinterpret events, especially the meaning of other people’s actions and the motives that lead people to act one way or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/people-do-misinterpret-events-especially-the-meaning-of-other-people/)

[Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/)

> [There are more reasons for people's actions than the number of actions that are actually set in motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-stohl/there-are-more-reasons-for-people-s-actions-than-the-number-of/)

[Margaret Stohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-stohl/)

> [The environment shapes people's actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-environment-shapes-people-s-actions/)

[B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/)

> [Just pay attention to detail. People's actions tell you way more than their mouth ever will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-pay-attention-to-detail-people-s-actions-tell-you-way-more-than/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Look, you can’t account for other people’s actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-bunn/look-you-can-t-account-for-other-people-s-actions/)

[Curtis Bunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-bunn/)

> [“You don’t need more time, you need to act on creative, intent-based ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/you-don-t-need-more-time-you-need-to-act-on-creative-intent-based/)

[Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/)

> [We have a cleaner system of government in this state where people run based on their ideas, not based on their ability to raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/we-have-a-cleaner-system-of-government-in-this-state-where-people-run/)

[Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/)

> [“The world is the way it is now because of five thousand years of ingrained structures of power based on darker times when things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-alderman/the-world-is-the-way-it-is-now-because-of-five-thousand-years-of/)

[Naomi Alderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-alderman/)

> [Every description of natural processes must be based on ideas which have been introduced and defined by the classical theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/every-description-of-natural-processes-must-be-based-on-ideas-which/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [I always start from scratch with a character - they're never based on anyone else. You get ideas of what people look like, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-burton/i-always-start-from-scratch-with-a-character-they-re-never-based-on/)

[Amanda Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-burton/)

> [You can't have modern states based on ideas which have been out of date for a thousand years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/you-can-t-have-modern-states-based-on-ideas-which-have-been-out-of/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

## More by Pavel Durov

> [Unless you are cool with all of your photos and messages becoming public one day, you should delete WhatsApp from your phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/unless-you-are-cool-with-all-of-your-photos-and-messages-becoming/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [In my past, it looked like I could get into trouble in Russia - but I was not afraid then, and I'm not afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/in-my-past-it-looked-like-i-could-get-into-trouble-in-russia-but-i/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [The first thing that we wanted to make clear is that nobody has to trust anybody. We don't take people's trust for Telegram for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/the-first-thing-that-we-wanted-to-make-clear-is-that-nobody-has-to/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [WhatsApp doesn't only fail to protect your WhatsApp messages - this app is being consistently used as a Trojan horse to spy on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/whatsapp-doesn-t-only-fail-to-protect-your-whatsapp-messages-this-app/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [When I turned 17, I created a website for the students at my University. It enabled students to share lectures and discuss exams, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/when-i-turned-17-i-created-a-website-for-the-students-at-my/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [Any government that likes to call themselves democratic should welcome Snowden and allow him to live in their country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/any-government-that-likes-to-call-themselves-democratic-should/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [In America they started to refer to Telegram as 'ISIS's preferred messaging app,' But in reality there are many more legitimate users.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/in-america-they-started-to-refer-to-telegram-as-isis-s-preferred/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [VK is famous for its competitions among third-party developers who build alternative versions of VK on its open API.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/vk-is-famous-for-its-competitions-among-third-party-developers-who/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [If you have WhatsApp and your phone goes down, you don't have access to your messages. You can't send documents and it's not private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/if-you-have-whatsapp-and-your-phone-goes-down-you-don-t-have-access/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [I'm out of Russia and have no plans to go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/i-m-out-of-russia-and-have-no-plans-to-go-back/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [The best legislative initiative - is the absence of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/the-best-legislative-initiative-is-the-absence-of-one/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [Despite this ever-increasing evidence of WhatsApp being a honeypot for people that still trust Facebook in 2019, it might also be the case that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/despite-this-ever-increasing-evidence-of-whatsapp-being-a-honeypot/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [Me myself, I'm not a big fan of the idea of countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/me-myself-i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-the-idea-of-countries/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [As a foreign company and offshore entity we will not be obliged to comply with the rules of Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/as-a-foreign-company-and-offshore-entity-we-will-not-be-obliged-to/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

> [Few people outside the Telegram fan community realize that most of the new features in messaging appear on Telegram first, and are then carbon-copied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/few-people-outside-the-telegram-fan-community-realize-that-most-of/)

[Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

[Explore all 80 Pavel Durov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/)

## More Based quotes

> [Like in nature, I like things which are based on a few simple principles, even though their manifestation can be very rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabiola-gianotti/like-in-nature-i-like-things-which-are-based-on-a-few-simple/)

[Fabiola Gianotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabiola-gianotti/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/)

[Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/)

> [An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/an-art-which-isn-t-based-on-feeling-isn-t-an-art-at-all/)

[Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/)

> [I'd always wanted the show to be more reality based science fiction, something along the lines of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-d-always-wanted-the-show-to-be-more-reality-based-science-fiction/)

[Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/)

> [I'm a fact-based leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-breed/i-m-a-fact-based-leader/)

[London Breed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-breed/)

> [At Inter, I earned my wages based on the results on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/at-inter-i-earned-my-wages-based-on-the-results-on-the-field/)

[Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/)

> [I used to be a columnist for 'Golf Monthly' and have contributed articles for national newspapers based on the humour that is in abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/i-used-to-be-a-columnist-for-golf-monthly-and-have-contributed/)

[Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/)

> [I've always made my decisions based on two factors: intellectual analysis and my gut. And when they meet, that's a go from me. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-ve-always-made-my-decisions-based-on-two-factors-intellectual/)

[Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/)

> [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/)

[Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/)

> [Christianity is based on a book. It centers in a Person. It expresses itself in a message. It authenticates itself in an experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/christianity-is-based-on-a-book-it-centers-in-a-person-it-expresses/)

[J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/)

> [“Teach me about some taxes. Why didn't nobody teach me about taxes on TV? Why don't nobody teach us about none of that man?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccartney/teach-me-about-some-taxes-why-didn-t-nobody-teach-me-about-taxes-on/)

[Brandon McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccartney/)

> [Conservatism is about the basic rights of individuals. God created us. As far as the government goes, the Founding Fathers based the Constitution off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/conservatism-is-about-the-basic-rights-of-individuals-god-created-us/)

[Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/)

> [Style is based on limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/style-is-based-on-limitations/)

[John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/)

> [Pacifism as a mass movement aims to avoid suffering; pacifists often say that no cause is worth suffering or dying for. The ethos of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/pacifism-as-a-mass-movement-aims-to-avoid-suffering-pacifists-often/)

[Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/)

[Browse all 830 Based quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Not everybody's actions are based on ideas. Some people's actions are based on profit.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pavel Durov"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ideas-some-people-s-actions-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Based"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ideas-some-people-s-actions-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/pavel-durov-8535_based_not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ide_2081227.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/pavel-durov-8535_based_not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ide_2081227.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/pavel-durov-8535_based_not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ide_2081227.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Not everybody's actions are based on ideas. Some people's actions are based on profit.” — Pavel Durov",
                "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": "Pavel Durov",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Not everybody's actions are based on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ideas-some-people-s-actions-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/not-everybody-s-actions-are-based-on-ideas-some-people-s-actions-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
