Motive Quotes

Just because scientists have the knowledge to do it, the technology to do it, and some may even have a financial motive or other incentive to do it, does not make it right.

In morals what begins in fear usually ends in wickedness; in religion what begins in fear usually ends in fanaticism. Fear, either as a principle or a motive, is the beginning of all evil.

By annihilating the desires, you annihilate the mind. Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.

Profit per se is not my motive.

It is futile to judge a kind deed by its motives. Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.

He is the best sailor who can steer within fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles.

The atmosphere is much too near for dreams. It forces us to action. It is close to us. We are in it and of it. It rouses us both to study and to do. We must know its moods and also its motive forces.

The primary motive for good care and good use of the land-community is always going to be affection, which is too often lacking.

Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.

I really have no ulterior motive in taking on certain roles. I have no larger issue that I really want to show people. I'm an actor, that's all. I just do what I do.

Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.

Few men could explain why they enlisted, and if they attempted they might only prove that they had done as a politician said the electorate does, the right thing from the wrong motive.

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.

It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.

In my opinion, the form of Government may be different in different countries, according to their circumstances, their wishes, their wants. England loves her Queen, and has full motive to do so.

There are a lot of people who are doing wonderful things, quietly, with no motive of greed, or hostility toward other people, or delusions of superiority.

This part of being a man, changing the way we parent, happens only when we want it to. It changes because we are determined for it to change; and the motive for changing often comes out of wanting to be the kind of parent we didn't have.

I don't necessarily find superheroes in general, for me, that appealing. I'd much prefer to play, if I was to be cast in a superhero film, I'd prefer to play the villain because there's a reason, there's a motive behind their madness.

Turning corporations loose and letting the profit motive run amok is not a prescription for a more livable world.

I believe absolutely in love being the central motive force of the universe.

My motive, and I will make it clear and look you in the eyes, is to attack major league baseball. That's my motive.

For the life of me, I don't understand what honest motive there is in putting this in front of this body to philosophically debate marriage on a constitutional amendment that is not going to happen, and which is enormously divisive in all of our communities.

Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and may be either good or bad according to the actions performed from that motive.

To withdraw myself from myself has ever been my sole, my entire, my sincere motive in scribbling at all.

My great crime in the world is blunder I will get into scrapes without intention or any bad motive.

Do not ever say that the desire to "do good" by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity are good motives.

The husband - by primitive instinct partly, certainly by ancient tradition - regards himself as the active partner in matters of love and his own pleasure as legitimately the prime motive for activity.

Some people are born with a vital and responsive energy. It not only enables them to keep abreast of the times; it qualifies them to furnish in their own personality a good bit of the motive power to the mad pace.

From a moral point of view, there is no excuse for terrorist acts, regardless of the motive or the situation under which they are carried out.

The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.