How many on their deathbeds wished they'd spent more time at the office - or watching TV? The answer is, No one.
Stephen CoveyRead
Satisfied needs do not motivate. It's only the unsatisfied need that motivates. Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival - to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Unmet needs drive human motivation, particularly the need for psychological validation and appreciation.
In this quote, Stephen Covey emphasizes the idea that motivation stems from unfulfilled needs rather than satisfied ones. While physical survival is crucial, the deeper psychological needs for understanding, affirmation, validation, and appreciation are equally fundamental to human existence. These psychological factors are what truly inspire individuals to act and seek improvement in their lives.
Themes
MotivationNeedsPsychologicalSurvivalValidationAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to encourage personal growth.
More from Stephen Covey
All quotes →If you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more freedom, more latitude in your job, be a more responsible, a more helpful, a more contributing employee.
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Listen with your eyes for feelings.
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If we live out of our memory, we're tied to the past and to that which is finite. When we live out of our imagination, _x000D_ we're tied to that which is infinite.
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Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.
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Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.
Stephen CoveyRead
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