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Believe Quote by William Faulkner

“Man knows so little about his fellows. In his eyes all men or women act upon what he believes would motivate him if he were mad enough to do what that other man or woman is doing.” quote by William Faulkner
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“Man knows so little about his fellows. In his eyes all men or women act upon what he believes would motivate him if he were mad enough to do what that other man or woman is doing.”

William Faulkner

About This Quote

Source Novel: Unknown, 20th century literature

People act based on their own motivations, not on others' expectations, revealing limited understanding of others.

In simple terms: We act on our own motives, not others'.

Key Takeaway

Seek to understand others' motives.

Themes

misunderstanding motivation human behavior empathy

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

psychological insightful

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • leadership
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

subjectivity psychology social perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you assume others share your motivations?
  • How can you better gauge others' drives?
A Different Perspective

Assuming others think like us leads to misinterpretation.

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