Topic
Motivation
Quotes
Unlock Your Inner Drive.
Motivation is the internal drive and energy that fuels our actions, directing our behavior towards achieving goals and fulfilling needs. It's what transforms potential into reality, giving purpose and direction to our lives by pushing us to strive, learn, and overcome challenges, ultimately shaping who we become.
# Motivation & Psychology
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Context: • George Eliot, Daniel Deronda (1876), Book VIII, Chapter LXV.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
“What makes life dreary is the want of motive.”
— Unknown
Psychology
Action (philosophy)U
Context: • First attestation: John Thomas (football coach); quoted September 15, 1953 in the Corpus Christi Times; as cited in "origin of 'when the going gets tough, the tough get(s) going'" Word Histories (02 January 2019)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Grose, J., Good v. Elliott (1790), 3 T. R. 701.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“Men's feelings are as different as their faces.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays. Fate.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
“A good intention clothes itself with sudden power.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Lord Kenyon, C.J., King v. Waddington (1800), 1 East, 158.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“We must judge of a man's motives from his overt acts.”
— Unknown
# Motivation & Action (philosophy)
U
Context: • Lord Mansfield, The King v. Woodfall (1774), Lofft. 782.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“There is no entering into the secret thoughts of a man's heart.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Joseph Yates, J., dissenting in Millar v. Taylor (1769), 4 Burr. Part IV., 2379.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“Every man has a right to keep his own sentiments if he pleases.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Sir William Grant, M.R., Burrowes v. Lock (1805), 10 Ves. Jr. 476.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“It is impossible to dive into the secret recesses of a man's heart.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Kekewich, J., Whelan v. Palmer (1888), L. J. Rep. (N. S.) 57 C. D. 788.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“Motives do not concern me; they are a dangerous subject with which to deal.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • H. L. Mencken, A Mencken Chrestomathy (1949), p. 12. This is the opening sentence of his essay, The Scientist, first published in The Smart Set, August 1919.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
“The value the world sets upon motives is often grossly unjust and inaccurate.”
— Unknown
More Quotes
U
Context: • George Eliot, Daniel Deronda (1876), Book VIII, Chapter LXV.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
“What makes life dreary is the want of motive.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • First attestation: John Thomas (football coach); quoted September 15, 1953 in the Corpus Christi Times; as cited in "origin of 'when the going gets tough, the tough get(s) going'" Word Histories (02 January 2019)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Grose, J., Good v. Elliott (1790), 3 T. R. 701.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“Men's feelings are as different as their faces.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays. Fate.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
“A good intention clothes itself with sudden power.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Lord Kenyon, C.J., King v. Waddington (1800), 1 East, 158.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“We must judge of a man's motives from his overt acts.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Lord Mansfield, The King v. Woodfall (1774), Lofft. 782.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“There is no entering into the secret thoughts of a man's heart.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Joseph Yates, J., dissenting in Millar v. Taylor (1769), 4 Burr. Part IV., 2379.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“Every man has a right to keep his own sentiments if he pleases.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Sir William Grant, M.R., Burrowes v. Lock (1805), 10 Ves. Jr. 476.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“It is impossible to dive into the secret recesses of a man's heart.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Kekewich, J., Whelan v. Palmer (1888), L. J. Rep. (N. S.) 57 C. D. 788.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“Motives do not concern me; they are a dangerous subject with which to deal.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • H. L. Mencken, A Mencken Chrestomathy (1949), p. 12. This is the opening sentence of his essay, The Scientist, first published in The Smart Set, August 1919.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
“The value the world sets upon motives is often grossly unjust and inaccurate.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Lord Kenyon, C.J., Eaton's Case (1793), 22 How. St. Tr. 821.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“To enter into the hearts of men belongs to him who can explore the human heart.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“motivation”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Shakespeare. Notes on Othello.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations:
Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 532.)
“Iago's soliloquy—the motive-hunting of a motiveless malignity—how awful it is!”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Lord Romilly, M.B., In Re Ward (1862), 31 Beav. 7.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904):
Quotes reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, The Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 178-180.)
“The plaintiff cannot dive into the secret recesses of his (the defendant's) heart.”
— Unknown
U
Context: • Mary Kay Ash, as quoted in The Greatest Management Principle in the World (1985) by Michael LeBoeuf, p. 97.
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Motivation" (Quotes)
“There are two things people want more than sex and money . . . i.e recognition and praise.”
— Unknown
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