--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Statistics show that most mortals sell…" description: "\"“Statistics show that most mortals sell their souls for five reasons: sex, money, power, revenge, and love. In that order.”\" — Richelle Mead" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/richelle-mead-46_death_statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-t_2900801.jpg" --- # Statistics show that most mortals sell their souls for… ![“Statistics show that most mortals sell their souls for five reasons: sex, money, power, revenge, and love. In that order.” quote by Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/richelle-mead-46_death_statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-t_2900801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/richelle-mead-46_death_statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-t_2900801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/richelle-mead-46_death_statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-t_2900801.jpg) > ““Statistics show that most mortals sell their souls for five reasons: sex, money, power, revenge, and love. In that order.”” [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote lists five motivations—sex, money, power, revenge, love—that drive people to compromise their integrity, ranking them by perceived importance. **In simple terms:** People trade integrity for five basic desires, ordered by priority. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist compromising values for these drives. Themes ethics human nature desire motivation integrity Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career decisions - political analysis - media critique Key Concepts psychology moral philosophy self‑interest Questions to Reflect On - Which desire most influences your choices? - Can you act without compromising integrity? A Different Perspective Not all individuals prioritize these motives the same way; cultural context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/souls/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, that depends, I suppose. I heard someone once say that men dance the same way they have sex. So, if you want everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/well-that-depends-i-suppose-i-heard-someone-once-say-that-men-dance/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [ “The \[bowling\] ball flew out jerkily, sailed about four feet, hit the lane with a loud crack , and then promptly entered the gutter.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/the-bowling-ball-flew-out-jerkily-sailed-about-four-feet-hit-the-lane/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [ “\[High angel\] Carter's fucked-up sense of humor in action.' \[The angel\] Lucinda flushed deep crimson. 'How can you use such language so carelessly? You… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/high-angel-carter-s-fucked-up-sense-of-humor-in-action-the-angel/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [There is only one sex. A man and a woman are so entirely the same thing that one can scarcely understand the subtle reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/there-is-only-one-sex-a-man-and-a-woman-are-so-entirely-the-same/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [“How come when mortals want things, their only option is to make a deal with Hell and sell their soul? Why can’t they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/how-come-when-mortals-want-things-their-only-option-is-to-make-a-deal/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“She’d rather be anonymous in a big city than infamous in a small town.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/she-d-rather-be-anonymous-in-a-big-city-than-infamous-in-a-small-town/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [“Just as smiles often follow tears, the sun rose full and bright on the morning..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-grey/just-as-smiles-often-follow-tears-the-sun-rose-full-and-bright-on-the/) Georgina Grey > [“Doesn't everyone sell his soul? I tell you, sir: the devil does not exist, there is no devil, yet I sold him my soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-o-guimar-es-rosa/doesn-t-everyone-sell-his-soul-i-tell-you-sir-the-devil-does-not/) [João Guimarães Rosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-o-guimar-es-rosa/) > [Some people will do anything to be famous some would sell there souls to get a taste of famous life to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-myers-jr/some-people-will-do-anything-to-be-famous-some-would-sell-there-souls/) [Michael Myers Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-myers-jr/) > [“In your world the weak sell their souls a bit at a time" - Ketastrina”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ambrose/in-your-world-the-weak-sell-their-souls-a-bit-at-a-time-ketastrina/) Lawrence Ambrose > [It is true everyone is going to enjoy their 15 minutes of fame, but they're going to have to sell their souls for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-bachchan-nanda/it-is-true-everyone-is-going-to-enjoy-their-15-minutes-of-fame-but/) [Shweta Bachchan Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-bachchan-nanda/) > [Most people sell their souls, and live with a good conscience on the proceeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/most-people-sell-their-souls-and-live-with-a-good-conscience-on-the/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [I hate doctors! They'll do anything... to keep you coming to them. They'll sell their souls. What's worse, they'll sell yours, and you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/i-hate-doctors-they-ll-do-anything-to-keep-you-coming-to-them-they-ll/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [“You say great artists sell their souls for their art?" "Maybe," she ventured. "That's true, I suppose. If you're doing it right, anyway. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-starbuck/you-say-great-artists-sell-their-souls-for-their-art-maybe-she/) [Sam Starbuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-starbuck/) > [“we sell our souls in public and buy them back in private, among”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/we-sell-our-souls-in-public-and-buy-them-back-in-private-among/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More by Richelle Mead > [“Jerome shrugged. “We’re back to the part where I don’t give a fuck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/jerome-shrugged-we-re-back-to-the-part-where-i-don-t-give-a-fuck/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“A piece of heaven?" I managed to ask. He slowly shook his head. "No. The other place. The one I'm going to burn in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/a-piece-of-heaven-i-managed-to-ask-he-slowly-shook-his-head-no-the/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [It was a nephilim.” “A nephi-what?” asked Hugh, startled. “Isn’t that a character on Sesame Street?” Peter spoke up for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-was-a-nephilim-a-nephi-what-asked-hugh-startled-isn-t-that-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Life and death were so unpredictable. So close to each other. We existed moment to moment, never knowing who would be the next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/life-and-death-were-so-unpredictable-so-close-to-each-other-we/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“I watched, enthralled, as he painted a large silver heart with flames edging one side. The whole design was Celtic in style. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-watched-enthralled-as-he-painted-a-large-silver-heart-with-flames/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“I loved Aeson. You have no idea what love is.” “Oh, I do. I know that it’s the best high and the worst hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-loved-aeson-you-have-no-idea-what-love-is-oh-i-do-i-know-that-it-s/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Why would you do that? Why would you act like you didn't know how to drive?" "Isn't it obvious, Sage? No, of course it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/why-would-you-do-that-why-would-you-act-like-you-didn-t-know-how-to/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Everything I’d fought for, every challenge, every victory … all of it was empty if anything happened to him. Without him, I wouldn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/everything-i-d-fought-for-every-challenge-every-victory-all-of-it-was/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Is it true? You had a clean getaway and risked it all for me?" I Swallowed. "It wouldn't have been a clean getaway without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/is-it-true-you-had-a-clean-getaway-and-risked-it-all-for-me-i/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian said, "Mmm. O positive, my favorite." Keith sprayed out the wine he'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/keith-was-just-bringing-the-glass-to-his-lips-when-adrian-said-mmm-o/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Life’s like that. As we grow and change, some things we’ve experienced before take on new meaning. It’ll happen for the rest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/life-s-like-that-as-we-grow-and-change-some-things-we-ve-experienced/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Hey Sydney," she said, giving me a small, crooked smile as she entered the room. Her flashing, dark eyes were friendly, but they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/hey-sydney-she-said-giving-me-a-small-crooked-smile-as-she-entered/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Sydney Katherine Sage,” he said, his green eyes full of love and earnestness. “Would you do a brooding, deadbeat Moroi the honor of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/sydney-katherine-sage-he-said-his-green-eyes-full-of-love-and/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) [Explore all 2,001 Richelle Mead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Statistics show that most mortals sell their souls for five reasons: sex, money, power, revenge, and love. In that order.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richelle Mead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-their-souls-for-five-reasons/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-their-souls-for-five-reasons/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/richelle-mead-46_death_statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-t_2900801.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/richelle-mead-46_death_statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-t_2900801.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/richelle-mead-46_death_statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-t_2900801.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Statistics show that most mortals sell their souls for five reasons: sex, money, power, revenge, and love…” — Richelle Mead", "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": "Richelle Mead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Statistics show that most mortals sell...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-their-souls-for-five-reasons/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/statistics-show-that-most-mortals-sell-their-souls-for-five-reasons/#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 } } ] } ```