Quotes About Motives

For example, if (as Dawkins argues) deceit is fundamental in animal communication, then there must be strong selection to spot deception and this ought, in turn, to select for a degree of self-deception, rendering some facts and motives unconscious so as not to betray—by the subtle signs of self-knowledge—the deception being practiced.

An apparently altruistic act is one that looks, superficially, as if it must tend to make the altruist more likely (however slightly) to die, and the recipient more likely to survive. It often turns out on closer inspection that acts of apparent altruism are really selfishness in disguise. Once again, I do not mean that the underlying motives are secretly selfish, but that the real effects of the act on survival prospects are the reverse of what we originally thought.

There never was an assembly of men, charged with a great and arduous trust, who were more pure in their motives, or more exclusively or anxiously devoted to the object committed to them.

That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?

Men sometimes have strange motives for the things they do.

It is only necessary to destroy in oneself the roots of those motives which determine a man's course, in order to enjoy the omnipotence and immunity of a god.

The reasons which any man offers to you for his own conduct betray his opinion of your character.

Every man has his own reason for every deed. Usually it is selfish.

Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations.

What a man marries for's hard to tell ... an' what a woman marries for's past findin' out.

The less men are fettered by tradition, the greater becomes the inward activity of their motives, and greater again in proportion to their outer restlessness.

When . . . in the course of all these thousands of years has man ever acted in accordance with his own interests?

It is not for human judgment to dive into the heart of man, to know whether his intentions are good or evil.

We must judge of a man's motives from his overt acts.

When trying a case [the famous judge] L. Cassius never failed to inquire "Who gained by it?" Man's character is such that no one undertakes crimes without hope of gain.

In proportion as a man is selfish, so far has he receded from the motive which constitutes virtue.

Our Lord did not say it was wrong to pray in the corners of the street, but He did say it was wrong to have the motive to "be seen of men".

Men killing other men really is an extraordinary phenomenon. Why does it happen? And how long has it gone on? And have the motives changed?

I may not have married for very sound reasons, but money was the least of them.

When somebody says it's not about the money, it's about the money.

How many of us, who are engaged in the Lord's holy service, are secretly cherishing some proud purpose of excelling other men, of making a name, of securing money and applause.

Obviously there's something very seductive about movies, which can be attractive in a bad way if you're doing them for the wrong reasons - for money, or for fame.

I would sooner look for figs on thistles than for the higher attributes of art from one whose ruling motive... is money.

God never leads anyone anywhere for money.