Skip to content

It is not the motive, properly speaking, that determines the working of the will; but it is the will that imparts strength to the motive. As Coleridge says: " It is the man that makes the motive, and not the motive the man."

— James McCosh Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

Another quote →

Topics

Motivational

More quotes by James McCosh

When Christianity is received, it stimulates the faculties, and calls forth new ideas, new motives, and new sentiments. It has been the mother of all modern education.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

I hold that we have a very imperfect knowledge of the works of nature till we view them as works of God,— not only as works of mechanism, but works of intelligence, not only as under laws, but under a Lawgiver, wise and good.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

They who know most of God on earth or heaven know that they know little after all; but they know that they may know more and more of Him throughout eternal ages.

As ages roll on there is doubtless a progression in human nature. The intellectual comes to rule the physical, and the moral claims to subordinate both. It is no longer strength of body that prevails, but strength of mind; while the law of God proclaims itself superior to both.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

True humility is a Christian grace and one of the fruits of the Spirit, originating in a deep consciousness of sin past and present, and leading us to discover our nothingness in the view of God, our insufficiency for any thing that is good, and prompting us, as we feel our infirmities, to strive after higher and yet higher attainments.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

All James McCosh quotes →

You may also like

In the eye of that Supreme Being to whom our whole internal frame is uncovered, dispositions hold the place of actions.

Hugh Blair Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

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

Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon Case of John Lambert and others (1793)

The plaintiff cannot dive into the secret recesses of his (the defendant's) heart.

John Romilly, 1st Baron Romilly In Re Ward (1862)

Iago's soliloquy—the motive-hunting of a motiveless malignity—how awful it is!

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Lectures and Notes on Shakespeare and Other English Poets (1811)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: James McCosh (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.