In the context of the variety of search options in the Slovenian corpus Nova Beseda, predominantly positively connoted adjectives with the word motivation are found. The concordance shows that motivation occurs most frequently in certain occupational groups. Motivators for achieving goals are motives such as diligence, hard work, perseverance and knowledge, which also appear in the folk tradition in pithy proverbs. Many were depicted on beehives in Slovenian folk art and reflect the understanding of rural life at the time.