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…autonomous motivation promotes greater conceptual understanding, better grades, enhanced persistence…, higher productivity, less burnout, and greater levels of psychological well-being.

…studies… have shown that people high in intrinsic motivation are better coworkers. And that makes the possibilities on this front enormous.

The most deeply motivated people – not to mention those who are most productive and satisfied – hitch their desires to a cause larger than themselves.

We’re learning that the profit motive, potent though it is, can be an insufficient impetus for both individuals and organizations.

The profit motive has been an important fuel for achievement. But it’s not the only motive. And it’s not the most important one.

When that blue flame is ignited within a person, it is a powerful force in getting you where you want to go.

Mental horsepower doesn’t guarantee mental dexterity. No matter how much brainpower you have, if you lack the motivation to change your mind, you’ll miss many occasions to think again.

The central premise [of motivational interviewing] is that we can rarely motivate someone else to change. We’re better off helping them find their own motivation to change.

The greater the distance between us and an adversary, the more likely we are to oversimplify their actual motives and invent explanations that stray far from their reality.

…extrinsic motivation that’s controlling is still detrimental to creativity, but extrinsic motivators that reinforce intrinsic drives can be highly effective.