The phrase "acceptable motive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing reasons or justifications for actions that are considered reasonable or justifiable in a particular context.
Example: "In the court's view, the defendant's actions were driven by an acceptable motive, which mitigated the severity of the charges against him."
Alternatives: "justifiable reason" or "valid motive".
Even if greed is ruled out as an acceptable motive for secession, in favour of mere nationalism, a new profusion of tiny tribal states might make the world an uglier place.Or a prettier one?
Ure argues that although the medieval Church did not consider wanderlust an acceptable motive for pilgrimage, the journeys made by the faithful gave rise to a booming tourist industry.
"A caution is warranted concerning the use of a theme that suggests a morally acceptable motive for the crime.
There is no acceptable motive or rationale for these crimes, as there is no acceptable excuse that they should be allowed to continue with flagrant impunity.
But I'm going to answer the question anyway, because it raises interesting notions about the acceptable motives for making a personal decision.
Despite Mr Dimon's admirable private candour, the authors urge executives to devise a plausible narrative about their failure that includes "clearly denying culpability, shifting responsibility for the mishap, reducing the offensiveness of the act, giving the appearance of reasonable behaviour and offering acceptable motives".
However an explicit rationing motive was regarded as acceptable.
All agreed that, when carried out with proper motives, abortion could be acceptable, e.g. when the life of the woman was in danger and in cases of rape.
Trustworthiness, in turn, consists of three main characteristics: technical competence to perform a task reliably (ability), having benign motives (benevolence), and acting according to acceptable ethical principles such as fairness and honesty (integrity).
By giving accounts for their actions people display their awareness of the disaffiliating or unexpected nature of the action and their understanding of the reasons and motives which make the action more acceptable or ordinary.
For a gift to be acceptable, the friendship would have to be the predominant motive for it, she said.
