Why do we act as we do, under certain circumstances? There is usually
some “motive” at work, prompting our action. Human motives find their
source in the subconscious mind of man; here they take root, and their
products alone are seen by us--mostly in varied actions. Dr. James J.
Jackson has written an interesting volume on “Human Motives,” in which
he distinguishes two sorts of motives--motives of constructiveness
and motives of adaptation. These are, of course, biological in
origin. Usually, we speak of “good” and “bad” motives. They all arise
from a complex of sentiments, which shape the form and tenor of the
subconscious thought--which, in turn, is symbolically expressed in
thought and action. Without discussing this question at greater length,
it may be said that all our motives originate within the subconscious
mind--which thus constitutes the spring of our thoughts and actions.