# Quotes about motivation - Quotes: 11 - Authors: 11 - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.json ## Quotes > The motives of mankind are plainer than the motions they produce. [R. D. Blackmore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-d-blackmore.md) · [Lorna Doone](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-d-blackmore/lorna-doone.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-d-blackmore/lorna-doone/the-motives-of-mankind.md) Topics: [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > Nothing degraded morale like the sense that the potential for excellence was being denied. [James S. A. Corey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey.md) · [Persepolis Rising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/persepolis-rising.md) · p. 428 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/persepolis-rising/nothing-degraded-morale.md) Topics: [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > Your actions reveal how badly you want something. If you keep saying something is a priority but you never act on it, then you don’t really want it. It’s time to have an honest conversation with yourself. Your actions reveal your true motivations. [James Clear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-clear.md) · [Atomic Habits](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-clear/atomic-habits.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-clear/atomic-habits/your-actions-reveal.md) Topics: [honesty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/honesty.md), [taking action](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/taking-action.md), [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > We both know that actions taken from internal conviction are far better motivated than any external commands. [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [The Mind Pool](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-mind-pool.md) · p. 292 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-mind-pool/we-both-know.md) Topics: [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > The motivations of men. They never make sense. And they always make sense. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [Warbreaker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/warbreaker.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/warbreaker/the-motivations-of-men.md) Topics: [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > 'Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and lay open the soul of the doer. [John Barth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-barth.md) · [The Sot-Weed Factor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-barth/the-sot-weed-factor.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-barth/the-sot-weed-factor/tis-eer-the.md) Topics: [judging others](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/judging-others.md), [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > Some became Crusaders for the love of change; some, in the hope of plunder; some, because they had nothing to do at home; some, because they did what the priests told them; some, because they liked to see foreign countries; some, because they were fond of knocking men about, and would as soon knock a Turk about as a Christian. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [A Child's History of England](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/a-childs-history-of-england.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/a-childs-history-of-england/some-became-crusaders.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed because you wanted something. How about the time you gave a large contribution to the Red Cross? Yes, that is no exception to the rule. You gave the Red Cross the donation because you wanted to lend a helping hand; you wanted to do a beautiful, unselfish, divine act. [Dale Carnegie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dale-carnegie.md) · [How to Win Friends and Influence People](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dale-carnegie/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people.md) · p. 40 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dale-carnegie/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people/every-act-you.md) Topics: [desire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/desire.md), [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > If you had no higher motive than the approval of your fellow mortal, it would do you little good. [Anne Brontë](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte.md) · [The Tenant of Wildfell Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall/if-you-had.md) Topics: [reputation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reputation.md), [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > One cannot live without motives. I have no motives left, and I am living. [Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [The Trouble With Being Born](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/one-cannot-live.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md) > Present interest, that is the motive power, the only motive power that takes us far and safely. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/present-interest-that.md) Topics: [motivation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/motivation.md)