Logo - Feel The Words

Rewards Quotes

What we chase, and why it works.

These rewards quotes range from education philosophy, which questions rewards and punishments as the lowest form of teaching, to the science of brain rewards behind habit and addiction. A few frame reward less as prize and more as Advantage earned through preparation.

Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.

Quotes by Zhuangzi

There are no rewards or punishments - only consequences.

Quotes by William Inge

For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.

Sun Tzu

In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences.

Quotes by Robert Green Ingersoll

Advantage Quotes

The drug or cult has major if not exclusive sources of brain rewards.

Quotes by Keith Henson

Serendipity always rewards the prepared.

Quotes by Katori Hall

Crimes, like virtues, are their own rewards.

Quotes by George Farquhar

The achievements which society rewards are won at the cost of diminution of personality.

Quotes by Benjamin Jowett

I don't sing for awards, I sing for rewards!

Quotes by Bappi Lahiri

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the core argument in these rewards quotes?
Several push back against the idea that rewards and punishments are good motivators, calling that approach the lowest form of education. Others suggest consequences matter more than any formal reward system.
Is there a scientific angle to any of these quotes?
Yes, one quote discusses how drugs and cults can exploit the brain's own reward pathways, treating them as a near-exclusive source of pleasure. It connects to the broader Brain collection on how the mind processes motivation.
What does the serendipity quote mean?
It suggests that lucky discoveries aren't purely random, and tend to reward people who were already prepared to recognize and act on them. It reframes reward as something earned through readiness rather than chance alone.
Do these quotes ever mention formal awards or prizes?
Not directly, though the theme of external recognition versus internal consequence runs close to that idea. For quotes specifically about trophies and honors, the Awards page covers that ground.
Are these quotes more about parenting or personal growth?
They lean more toward general philosophy and psychology than parenting specifically, touching on education, addiction science, and opportunity. The common denominator is questioning what actually drives behavior.

The recurring theme is that rewards rarely arrive without cost or consequence attached. For quotes on the recognition side of reward specifically, see Awards, and for the neuroscience angle, Brain.