Quotes about Motives

To understand the true quality of people, you must look into their minds, and examine their pursuits and aversions.

Man sees your actions, but God your motives.

Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions.

It is, generally, in the season of prosperity that men discover their real temper, principles, and designs.

A man should fear when he only enjoys what good he does publicly. Is it not the publicity rather than the charity he loves? Is it not vanity, rather than benevolence, that gives such charities?

Every time I catch myself trying to figure out other people's motives, I'll stop and ask myself: "What did I say or do that prompted the action? Why did I react to it as I did? Does what happened make a major difference to me, or am I making something big out of a trifle?" Leave off that excessive desire of knowing; therein is found much distraction There are many things the knowledge of which is of little or no profit to the soul.

Many are secretly seeking their own ends in what they do, yet know it not.

charity is oftentimes really sensuality, for man's own inclination, his own will, his hope of reward, and his self-interest, are motives seldom absent. On the contrary, he who has true and perfect charity seeks self in nothing, but searches all things for the glory of God.

God made man to go by motives, and he will not go without them, any more than a boat without steam or a balloon without gas.

If you look at their intentions, examine their motives, and scrutinize what brings them contentment — how can people hide who they are? How can they hide who they really are?

One good way to check our motives when doing something for the Lord is to see how sweet and patient we can remain when it does not go the way we want it to.

of all bad motives none may be worse or more hopeless than fear. Nobody, I think, has ever done good work because of fear. Good work is done by knowing how and by love. Love requires faith, courage, patience, and steadiness, none of which can come from fear.