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Use motives in a sentence

Sentences starting with motives

Motives of personal spite and of personal gain were laid bare, and even the barter and sale of offices of trust took place before my very eyes. [9]
Motives of self-interest led the ambitious high-priest, Oropastes, whom Cambyses had appointed regent in his absence, to place himself at the head of this movement. [10]

Sentences ending with motives

It can't; it would go to pieces, if people acted from unselfish motives. [8]
If Captain Jones was ambitious of personal glory, he may never, at least, be accused of mercenary motives. [9]
His senior deacon ventured to say to him that some of his people required to be reminded of the great fundamental doctrine of the worthlessness of all human efforts and motives. [6]
He is ever turning back, in whatever he writes, to rehearse his exploits and to defend his motives. [4]
She had wished to see him again--nor did she analyze her motives. [9]
Thou hast nothing to fear from him--I will answer for the purity of his motives. [10]
Kneeling reverently on the solitary furniture of the room--a prayer-rug from Medina--he lost himself as completely in his devotions as though his life were an even current of unforbidden acts and motives. [11]
As usual in such cases, each questions the other's motives. [7]
Inside of a somewhat unpromising shell, Mr. Zeb Meader was a human being, and no mean judge of men and motives. [9]
Some people are so small as to be repelled by greatness, to be jealous of high gifts and power, and it was perhaps inevitable that a few of the humbler members whom Mr. Crewe had entertained should betray his hospitality, and misinterpret his pure motives. [9]

More example sentences with the word motives in them

Try to compose yourself, and believe my assurances that I like you and that you will find in me a zealous protector and a discreet friend if you will but tell me candidly and fully what are the motives of your conduct. [10]
The old man would scarcely have understood his motives, and it was better for both to part without seeing each other rather than in open strife. [10]
Tom and I would have preferred to sleep in the woods near by, with our feet to the blaze; this was partly from motives of economy, and partly because Tom, in common with other pioneers, held an inn in contempt. [9]
Nor was it without great surprise and much speculation on Quilp's probable motives, nor without many bitter comments on Dick Swiveller's folly, that his friend received the tale. [12]
The same persons who abuse the reformers, and lay all our troubles at their door, are apt to be severe also on what they contemptuously emphasize as "sentiments" considered as motives of action. [6]
Meanwhile she never wearied of seeking motives that would place his conduct in a more favourable light. [10]
I should rather wait till the last day for some of my motives to come to the top. [8]
The churches know very well, he maintains, that the fear of everlasting punishment more than any or all other motives is the source of their power and the support of their organizations. [6]
I have said, upon a former occasion, and I repeat it now, that the course of arguement that Judge Douglas makes use of upon this subject (I charge not his motives in this), is preparing the public mind for that new Dred Scott decision. [7]
Keep it out until a vote is taken, and a vote in favor of it cannot be got in any population of forty thousand on earth, who have been drawn together by the ordinary motives of emigration and settlement. [7]
I came here to-night to ask you to undertake a mission in behalf of myself and certain other gentlemen, and I assure you that my motives are not wholly mercenary. [9]
Everything Wolf had told her concerning the motives which induced Charles to devote himself for the remainder of his life to quiet contemplation seemed to her as credible as to the knight himself. [10]
Men join them to-day from all motives, but the religious is the only one to which they may safely be trusted. [9]
I wish further to say that I do not propose to question the patriotism or to assail the motives of any man or class of men, but rather to confine myself strictly to the naked merits of the question. [7]
Unless you wish to blind yourself, your Eminence, you will admit that I have seen correctly the most powerful motives for this unequalled act. [10]
After passing the time of day, as was his custom, the patient freely discussed the motives which had led him to refuse any more of Victoria's fruit. [9]
He hardly knew till this moment how much of passion mingled with other and calmer motives of admiration. [6]
No bait of this sort was too obvious for Beaton to swallow; he could be caught with it as often as Fulkerson chose; though he was ordinarily suspicious as to the motives of people in saying things. [8]
In this I think I argue fairly (without questioning motives at all) that Judge Douglas is most ingeniously and powerfully preparing the public mind to take that decision when it comes; and not only so, but he is doing it in various other ways. [7]
He felt now the smarting anger, the outraged vanity of the wrong-doer who, having argued down his own conscience, and believing he has blinded others as himself, suddenly finds that himself and his motives are naked before the world. [11]
The motives on the other side were something deeper than any which Richard Swiveller entertained or understood, but these being left to their own development, require no present elucidation. [12]
And she contemplated the Honora of other days--of the flesh, as though she were now the spirit departed from that body; sorrowfully, poignantly regretful of the earthly motives, of the tarnished ideals by which it had been animated and led to destruction. [9]
She speculated on the homes from which these had come, and the motives which had brought them. [9]
I am convinced that the majority of people would be generous from selfish motives, if they had the opportunity. [4]
The subject of that letter is exceedingly painful to me, and I cannot but think there is some mistake in your impression of the motives of the old men. [7]
Then she saw that his motives had been wholly unselfish--even quixotic, as it appeared to her--silly, she would have called it, if silliness had not seemed unlikely in him. [11]
He was not striving for communion with the highest things, he felt no humble desire for inward purification; far different motives influenced him. [10]
But there are special motives concealed beneath it. [10]
And how could she explain the motives that led to it? [9]
But habit, you see, is an action in present circumstances from past motives. [6]
One thing had purified her motives and her life--the desire to share with Eglington his public duty and private hopes, to be his confidante, his friend, his coadjutor, proud of him, eager for him, determined to help him. [11]
But it was pleasing to Sir Thomas Dale, who was a man to appreciate the high motives of Mr. Rolfe. [4]
The movement of peoples from west to east was to be succeeded by a movement of peoples from east to west, and for this fresh war another leader was necessary, having qualities and views differing from Kutuzov's and animated by different motives. [2]
He had his own motives for bringing her to this determination,--and his own way of setting about it. [6]
He was not only older, but sharper, better acquainted with the city and its ways, and, whatever might be the strength of Cyprian's motives, his own were of such intensity that he thought of nothing else by day, and dreamed of nothing else by night. [6]
With this explanation of my motives, I will now ask you of your courtesy to make an appeal for me to the public press. [5]
Others, from motives of love or jealousy, would not part from their husbands. [10]
However, from motives of humanity, it would make representations in the hope that the Egyptian Government would act; but it was not improbable, in view of past experiences of Claridge Pasha, that he would extricate himself from his present position, perhaps had done so already. [11]
Since the motives of every philanthropist and public benefactor are inevitably challenged by cynics, there were many who asked the question, "What did Mr. Crewe want? [9]
He was sensible of being manipulated, operated, but he was helpless to escape from the performer or to fathom her motives. [8]
A Cambridge graduate of ambition and ability found an opening far from undesirable in a worldly point of view, in a profession which he was led to choose by higher motives. [6]
To the surprise of Alice, Ruth took to the small gaieties of the village with a zest of enjoyment that seemed foreign to one who had devoted her life to a serious profession from the highest motives. [5]
In the presence of a mystery he should be ready to find motives, to construct them and put them into play, as though they were real--work till a clue was found. [11]
Her motives were not unmixed, though there had been a real impulse to do all she could. [11]
His motives had not their origin in hatred of Philip alone, nor in desire for honours and estates for himself, nor in racial antagonism, for had he not been allied with England in this war against the Government? [11]
Augustus Flint was not a man given to the psychological amusement of self-examination; he had never analyzed his motives. [9]
Frau Traut by no means overlooked the vanity of these motives. [10]
And, although the Mukaukas could clearly see through the secondary motives which influenced the Patriarch, he nevertheless believed that Benjamin's office as Shepherd of souls gave him power to close the Gates of Heaven against any sheep in his flock. [10]
You understand my motives, Gaston Robert Belward? [11]
Of all the motives which could prompt him to aid the nuns, revenge was that which the Arab could best understand. [10]
As to the motives of the inventor and vender of the Tractors, the facts must be allowed to speak for themselves. [3]
He could judge motives more than passably well, and play upon weaknesses. [9]
What are the motives for prayer? [5]
No more profound mistake could be made than to attribute to any element of the population motives wholly base. [9]
In the dramatic method the characters appear, and show what they are by what they do and say; the reader studies their motives, and a part of his enjoyment is in analyzing them, and his vanity is flattered by the trust reposed in his perspicacity. [4]
As I talked merely to get a chance to inspect; and as I strung out the random rubbish solely to prolong the inspection, I judged it but decent to confess these low motives, and I did so. [5]
I have already mentioned the motives attributed by the Perkinists to the Medical Profession, as preventing its members from receiving the new but unwelcome truths. [3]
I need not mention his motives, nor dwell upon your peril. [9]
My uncle tells me you are the best lawyer in the country, and I am surprised that you are so slow in getting at motives. [9]
He surely owed me nothing for refusing a case against him, and must have known that my motives for so doing were not personal. [9]
But in the matter of motives and of a few details of character we agree to disagree upon Napoleon, Cromwell, and all the rest; and to this list we must add Mrs. Eddy. [5]
He was a man the singleness of whose motives could not be questioned. [9]
Its motives are made manifest in the blessings they bring--which, if not acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness to be made partakers of Love. [5]
Mr. Mavick never made a flying visit to his family--and he was in Rivervale twice during the season--that the newspapers did not chronicle his every movement, and attribute other motives than family affection to these excursions into New England. [4]
This was a little spat between the twins; not much of a spat, but still a spat; and before they got far with it, they were in a decided condition of irritation while pretending to be actuated by more respectable motives. [5]
The motives in life are so mixed that it seems impossible wholly to condemn or wholly to approve. [4]
That was the leading motive, the divinely spiritual one; but there were other motives, which, like tentacles, aided in drawing her will to the acceptance of a possible abnegation. [13]
I do not know why they have done this, but I think it is from dishonest motives. [5]
Now, with the kindest motives in the world, I offer for the consideration of consumptive patients the variegated course of treatment I have lately gone through. [5]
When he praises, it is with evident pleasure; and when he finds fault, it is with evident reluctance and restraint, excepting where motives purely patriotic urge him to state roundly what it is for the benefit of his country should be known. [5]
And again, it is so common and so easy to ascribe motives to men of these classes other than those they profess to act upon. [7]
At once, sincerity is questioned, and motives are assailed. [7]
A moral being is one who is capable of comparing his past and future actions or motives, and of approving or disapproving of them. [1]
The public good is one of the motives that looks best in Washington. [4]
And you've always insisted," she added, "in ascribing to me motives that--that never occurred to me. [9]
Many motives had induced her to seek the venerable prelate at this late hour. [10]
I do not impugn the motives of any one opposed to me. [7]
Now, as ever, I wish not to misrepresent Judge Douglas's position, question his motives, or do aught that can be personally offensive to him. [7]
We agree that his words and his acts clearly interpret his character to us, and that they never leave us in doubt as to the motives whence the words and acts proceeded. [5]
Who shall set himself up to judge human motives. [5]
Many motives drew her there, but especially her business; day and night her mind was haunted by the garments which, just at this time, before the commencement of the Reichstag, other dressmakers were fashioning for her aristocratic customers. [10]
A woman's loving heart does not question motives and laws. [10]
He wished that he had done it before; but his motives had been good--it was not to save himself. [11]
Since then she has been both devil and sinner, but not in the way he meant; simply a danger to the safety of this dangerous community; a Louise Michel--we had her here too!--without Louise Michel's high motives. [11]
However suspicious Master Gridley was of him and his motives, he thought it worth while to call up at The Poplars and inquire for himself of the nurse what was this new relation growing up between the physician and his young patient. [6]
He must be given this credit: his motives remain problematical; at length he even drew laughter from her. [9]
Man's actions proceed from his innate character and the motives acting upon him. [2]
Far be it from him to cast any suspicion upon the motives of the able, eloquent and ingenious lawyers of the state; they act officially; their business is to convict. [5]
Not, I own, from any charity on my part, but from other motives which do me no credit. [9]
From motives of friendship, urged by no one, he came unbidden to the woman whom he had formerly so sincerely admired, to entreat her to cheer the unfortunate man, rouse him, and remind him of his duty. [10]
Where motives and emotions are few they are the more vital, their action is the more violent. [11]
He had married early, at that happy period when interested motives are least apt to influence the choice; and his single idea of marriage was, that it was the union of persons naturally drawn towards each other by some mutual attraction. [6]
There were moments during her brief visit when her face was very sad, but no doubt her predominant feeling escaped her in regard to the criticism quoted from somebody on Jerry Hollowell's methods and motives. [4]
Well, you have done it with marvelous facility and you make all the motives and feelings perfectly clear without analyzing the guts out of them, the way George Eliot does. [5]
As we cannot distinguish between motives, we rank all actions of a certain class as moral, if performed by a moral being. [1]
Bungling grossness has disappeared from all really able and large transactions, and genius is mainly exercised in the supply of motives for a line of conduct. [4]
It is so difficult to analyze motives, and in Margaret's case so hard to define the change that had taken place in her. [4]
As far as deliberation, and the victory over opposing motives are concerned, animals may be seen doubting between opposed instincts, in rescuing their offspring or comrades from danger; yet their actions, though done for the good of others, are not called moral. [1]
The bias which decides his choice between two or more motives may come from some unsuspected ancestral source, of which he knows nothing at all. [6]
Then, not from curiosity, for grave motives, he desired to know what relations existed between Sir Wolf Hartschwert and Barbara. [10]

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