Acting Quote by Rebecca Solnit
“The oil corporations spend a lot of money to get, say, the tar sands pipeline through, but nobody's - you know, there are definitely environmentalists being paid - but a lot of people are acting for something other than financial compensation. So if the tar sands pipeline doesn't get made, it's because a huge amount of people are doing something that doesn't involve remuneration, money, etc., because we're not actually the self-interested financial instruments that economists like to imagine we are.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Politics of the Environment”, 2005
People act on environmental causes without financial gain, challenging the notion that all actions are self‑interested.
In simple terms: People often help without expecting money.
Key Takeaway
Recognize altruistic motives.
Themes
environment
altruism
economics
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
essay
activist
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy
- community projects
- volunteer work
Key Concepts
Social behavior
motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we sometimes act selflessly?
- What drives people beyond profit?
A Different Perspective
Motivation can be mixed; financial incentives still matter.
![“[In mountaineering, if] we look for private experience rather than public history, even getting to the top becomes an optional narrative rather than the main point, and those who only wander in high places become part of the story.” quote by Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e6/rebecca-solnit-569_high-places_in-mountaineering-if-we-look-for-private_78831.jpg)
