Motives

Famous quotes containing the word motives:

    The proper office of religion is to regulate the heart of men, humanize their conduct, infuse the spirit of temperance, order, and obedience; and as its operation is silent, and only enforces the motives of morality and justice, it is in danger of being overlooked, and confounded with these other motives.
    David Hume (1711–1776)

    The motives to actions and the inward turns of mind seem in our opinion more necessary to be known than the actions themselves; and much rather would we choose that our reader should clearly understand what our principal actors think than what they do.
    Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)

    Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own.
    —J.M. (James Matthew)