Motive vs. Motto — What's the Difference?

Causing or able to cause motion

A motto (derived from the Latin muttum, 'mutter', by way of Italian motto, 'word', 'sentence') is the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group or organization. Mottos are usually found predominantly in written form (unlike slogans, which may also be expressed orally), and may stem from long traditions of social foundations, or from significant events, such as a civil war or a revolution.

An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action.

A short sentence or phrase chosen as encapsulating the beliefs or ideals of an individual, family, or institution

(mōtĭv, mō-tēv) A motif in art, literature, or music.

A phrase which recurs throughout a musical work and has some symbolical significance

Causing an action

A brief statement used to express a principle, goal, or ideal

(obsolete) An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.

(heraldry) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievement.

An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action.

A sentence, phrase, or word, prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, or the like, suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle; a maxim.

A limb or other bodily organ that can move.

(obsolete) A paper packet containing a sweetmeat, cracker, etc., together with a scrap of paper bearing a motto.

(law) Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.

(intransitive) To compose mottos.

A motif.

A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievment.

(music) A motif; a theme or subject, especially one that is central to the work or often repeated.

A sentence, phrase, or word, prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, or the like, suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle; a maxim.

(transitive) To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

A favorite saying of a sect or political group

Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move

Relating to motion and/or to its cause

That which moves; a mover.

That which incites to action; anything prompting or exciting to choise, or moving the will; cause; reason; inducement; object; motivation{2}.

The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a comor a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is develpoed. See also Leading motive, under Leading.

That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one.

Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power.

To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

The psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior;

A theme that is elaborated on in a piece of music

Causing or able to cause motion;

Impelling to action;