One starts an action simply because one must do something.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
If you do not wish a man to do a thing, you had better get him to talk about it; for the more men talk, the more likely they are to do nothing else.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I’m slowly becoming a convert to the principle that you can’t motivate people to do things, you can only demotivate them. The primary job of the manager is not to empower but to remove obstacles.
—Scott Adams (b.1957) American Cartoonist
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown,
And three with a new song’s measure,
Can trample an empire down.
—Arthur O’Shaughnessy (1844–81) British Poet, Herpetologist
Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible.
—William Sloane Coffin (1924–2006) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Peace Activist
Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
We are motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is the more he is inspired by glory. The very philosophers themselves, even in those books which they write in contempt of glory, inscribe their names.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you’ll be amazed at the results.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Don’t spur a willing horse.
—Common Proverb
I am not sending messages with my feet. All I ever wanted was not to come up empty. I did it for the dough and the old applause.
—Fred Astaire (1899–1987) American Actor, Dancer, Singer
The passion to get ahead is sometimes born of the fear lest we be left behind.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Whatever touches the nerves of motive, whatever shifts man’s moral position, is mightier than steam, or caloric, or lightning.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things themselves; we are happy from possessing what we like, not from possessing what others like.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Fear, desire, hope, still push us on toward the future.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Hunger, love, vanity, and fear. There are four great motives of human action.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Academic, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
Success stems from motivation, effort, and a commitment to excellence.
—Anonymous
Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
Necessity, who is the mother of our invention.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
We must not inquire too curiously into motives. They are apt to become feeble in the utterance: the aroma is mixed with the grosser air. We must keep the germinating grain away from the light.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The peril of the hour moved the British to tremendous exertions, just as always in a moment of extreme danger things can be done which had previously been thought impossible. Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas.
—Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) German Soldier
It is the around-the-corner brand of hope that prompts people to action, while the distant hope acts as an opiate.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
It is not the horse that draws the cart, but the oats.
—Russian Proverb
I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Am I motivated by what I really want out of life—or am I mass-motivated?
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
It is not merely cruelty that leads men to love war, it is excitement.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Some people are molded by their admirations, others by their hostilities.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
We should not teach children the sciences; but give them a taste for them.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
We talk on principal, but act on motivation.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
One of the strongest characteristics of genius is the power of lighting its own fire.
—John W. Foster