The man who is rich in the understanding of people always recognizes that all people are fundamentally alike, in that they have evolved from the same stem: that all human activities are inspired by one or more of the nine basic motives of life, viz:

- The emotion of love
- The emotion of sex
- The desire for material gain
- The desire for self-preservation
- The desire for freedom of body and mind
- The desire for self-expression
- The desire for perpetuation of life after death
- The emotion of anger
- The emotion of fear

And the man who would understand others must first understand himself.

The capacity to understand others eliminates many of the common causes of friction among men. It is the foundation of all friendship. It is the basis of all harmony and cooperation among men. It is the fundamental of major importance in all leadership which calls for friendly cooperation. And some believe that it is an approach of major importance to the understanding of the Creator of all things. - Napoleon Hill