--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Satisfied needs do not motivate. It’s…" description: "\"“Satisfied needs do not motivate. It’s only the unsatisfied need that motivates. Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psych..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/stephen-r-covey-1501_empathy_satisfied-needs-do-not-motivate-it-s-onl_1928735.jpg" --- # Satisfied needs do not motivate. It’s only the unsatisfied… ![“Satisfied needs do not motivate. It’s only the unsatisfied need that motivates. Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival—to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated. When you listen with empathy to another person, you give…” quote by Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/stephen-r-covey-1501_empathy_satisfied-needs-do-not-motivate-it-s-onl_1928735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/stephen-r-covey-1501_empathy_satisfied-needs-do-not-motivate-it-s-onl_1928735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/stephen-r-covey-1501_empathy_satisfied-needs-do-not-motivate-it-s-onl_1928735.jpg) > ““Satisfied needs do not motivate. It’s only the unsatisfied need that motivates. Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival—to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated. When you listen with empathy to another person, you give that person psychological air. And after that vital need is met, you can then focus on influencing or problem solving. This need for psychological air impacts communication in every area of life.”” [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are driven by unmet psychological needs; meeting the need for understanding and validation creates space for influence and problem solving. **In simple terms:** Unmet emotional needs motivate; meeting them enables influence. Key Takeaway Address emotional needs before trying to persuade. Themes psychology communication motivation empathy influence Mood empathetic insightful reflective Type advice motivational psychological When to use this quote - team meetings - coaching sessions - conflict resolution - customer service - personal relationships Key Concepts Maslow's hierarchy emotional intelligence active listening Questions to Reflect On - How can you tell when someone’s psychological need is unmet? - What strategies help you provide psychological “air” in tense conversations? A Different Perspective If the need for validation is ignored, attempts at influence may backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Human Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-psychological-1800612/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Need Motivates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-motivates-3004554/) [Need Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-psychological-338684/) [Needs Motivate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-motivate-2150494/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Psychological Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological-survival-1800610/) ## Related quotes > [Satisfied needs do not motivate. It's only the unsatisfied need that motivates. 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How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Understanding breeds empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/understanding-breeds-empathy/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I have a lot of empathy, and I think that's where mothering starts. 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Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“the very problem created the opportunity to build a deep relationship that empowered us to work together as a strong complementary team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/the-very-problem-created-the-opportunity-to-build-a-deep-relationship/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) [Explore all 230 Stephen R. Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## More Empathy quotes > [I have a lot of empathy, and I think that's where mothering starts. You are there to empathise and facilitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-have-a-lot-of-empathy-and-i-think-that-s-where-mothering-starts-you/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. 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