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About this quote

What does it mean?
Human behavior is primarily driven by the fear of punishment and the desire for personal gain.
In plain terms
People act mostly out of fear or self-interest.
What can you take from it?
Fear and self-interest drive human action.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • management
  • political strategy

Putting it to work

  • designing incentives
  • crafting laws
  • negotiating deals

Questions to consider

  • Do you act mainly out of fear?
  • What motivates your decisions?

Another view

People also act out of altruism, duty, or love.

More from Napoleon Bonaparte

  1. Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues.

    Permalink to quote #126
  2. Men take only their needs into consideration-never their abilities.

    Permalink to quote #128
  3. Let China sleep. For when China wakes, it will shake the world.

    Permalink to quote #125

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