--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The three most effective incentives to…" description: "\"The three most effective incentives to human action may be ... classified as creed, greed and dread. ... In examining the scientist it is perhaps worth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/robert-watson-watt-62021_action_the-three-most-effective-incentives-to-h_2303896.jpg" --- # The three most effective incentives to human action may be… ![“The three most effective incentives to human action may be ... classified as creed, greed and dread. ... In examining the scientist it is perhaps worth while to examine how far he is moved by these three incentives. I think that, rather peculiarly and rather exceptionally, he is very little moved…” quote by Robert Watson-Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/robert-watson-watt-62021_action_the-three-most-effective-incentives-to-h_2303896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/robert-watson-watt-62021_action_the-three-most-effective-incentives-to-h_2303896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/robert-watson-watt-62021_action_the-three-most-effective-incentives-to-h_2303896.jpg) > “The three most effective incentives to human action may be ... classified as creed, greed and dread. ... In examining the scientist it is perhaps worth while to examine how far he is moved by these three incentives. I think that, rather peculiarly and rather exceptionally, he is very little moved by dread. ... He is in fact essentially a person who has been taught he must be fearless in his dealing with facts.” [Robert Watson-Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-watson-watt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human behavior is driven primarily by three motivations: belief, desire for gain, and fear, but scientists tend to be less influenced by fear. **In simple terms:** People act from creed, greed, and dread; scientists ignore dread. Key Takeaway Recognize which incentive drives you and act accordingly. Themes motivation human nature science psychology Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - policy making - leadership decisions - personal goal setting Key Concepts creed greed dread fearlessness Questions to Reflect On - What incentive most influences your decisions? - How can fear be constructively managed? A Different Perspective Scientists may overestimate fearlessness, overlooking legitimate concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Classification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classification/) [Creeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeds/) [Effectiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effectiveness/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fearless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearless/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Human actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-actions/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“They believe in the religion of privilege, the creed of greed and the dogma of perks – for themselves,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-minier/they-believe-in-the-religion-of-privilege-the-creed-of-greed-and-the/) Bernard Minier > [This position will not be disputed, so long as it is admitted that the desire of reward is one of the strongest incentives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/this-position-will-not-be-disputed-so-long-as-it-is-admitted-that-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The desire of reward is one of the strongest incentives of human conduct; ... the best security for the fidelity of mankind is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-desire-of-reward-is-one-of-the-strongest-incentives-of-human/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [All human actions have one or more of these seven causes : chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-human-actions-have-one-or-more-of-these-seven-causes-chance-2/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [He who has been impoverished for a long timewho has long stood before the door of the mighty in darkness and begged for alms,has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/he-who-has-been-impoverished-for-a-long-timewho-has-long-stood-before/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire. 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