aweb, sometimes the motivation is the desire to "beat others" and thus survive. Sometimes it is the desire to create. The desire to create is always at the core of any achievement.
the desire to "Beat Someone" could arise from the need to survive. If you don't beat someone to crate something new, you livelihood might be impaired or removed, thus your survival is threatened. But again the creative drive is paramount. Without it, nothing gets done.

Do really like the quote, makes one rethink their motivations and their approach to life and being a Creator in the sense of Howard Roark.
+1 for the post