14 Quotes on Intrinsic Motivation That Will Get You Moving

Intrinsic motivation is one of the key secrets to the success of all great people. They set goals based on what they love to do and focus on enjoying the process of getting where they want to go.

That’s why when you see someone doing something amazing it seems so effortless. They’ve tapped into the deepest sources of motivation to reach their full potential. And you can do it too.

If you’ve ever set a goal and working on it felt natural and instinctive, you know what intrinsic motivation is like. You can learn more about it and how to get it in these articles:

Today though, we’re getting into some of the best quotes on intrinsic motivation from authors like Daniel Pink, neuroscientists like Andrew Huberman, and psychologists like Nick Wignall.

Let’s get right to it!

5 Quotes on How Intrinsic Motivation Works

“Intrinsic motivation is derived from our internal desires — it comes from within us. It’s driven by personal satisfaction, interest, or the pleasure we derive from performing a task”
— Galen Calloway

“Money can extinguish intrinsic motivation, diminish performance, crush creativity, encourage unethical behavior, foster short-term thinking, and become addictive.”
— Daniel Pink

“If an activity is rewarding enough in itself, be careful with rewarding yourself for it. You may find that you inadvertently start doing it for the reward rather than just enjoying it.”
— Markus Skårnes

“When the reward is the activity itself, deepening learning, delighting customers, doing one’s best– there are no shortcuts.”
— Daniel Pink

“If you can make your path to your goal enjoyable, you will be intrinsically motivated. This idea is more important when you pursue goals that require you to do something that you don’t love doing. The solution is simple — be creative and make them more enjoyable to do.”
— Kamal Hussain

4 Quotes on Intrinsic Motivation That Explain Why You Need It

“Intrinsic motivation is conducive to creativity.”
— Daniel Pink

“Most people aren’t anywhere near to realizing their creative potential, in part because they’re laboring in environments that impede intrinsic motivation.”
— Teresa Amabile

“Our prevailing system of management has destroyed our people. People are born with intrinsic motivation, self-respect, dignity, curiosity to learn, joy in learning. The forces of destruction begin with toddlers – a prize for the best Halloween costume, grades in school, gold stars – and on up through the university. On the job people, teams, and divisions are ranked, reward for the top, punishment for the bottom. Management by Objectives, quotas, incentive pay, business plans, put together separately, division by division, cause further loss, unknown and unknowable.”
— W. Edwards Deming

“Only intrinsic motivation lasts in the long run.”
— Nick Wignall

The 6 Best Quotes on Intrinsic Motivation

“Intrinsic motivation is perhaps the holy grail of all human endeavors and behaviors because it encompasses so much of what brought us to this point in our species evolution and also what brings each and every one of us closer and closer to our goals. And if it’s happening within enjoyment without the need to layer in additional tools, well then you’ve really tapped into the source.”
— Andrew Huberman

“Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.”
― Daniel Pink

“It’s only when we’re working on things that truly matter to us in a deep way that we can be fully engaged and working at close to our potential over the long-term.”
— Nick Wignall

“You can motivate by fear, and you can motivate by reward. But both those methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self motivation.”
— Homer Rice

“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”
— Confucius

Let’s Wrap This Up

I hope these quotes have helped you understand intrinsic motivation better so you can set some intrinsic goals for yourself. If you’re hoping to learn more about this topic, check out the articles I linked to in the introduction for more info.