"I figured out a long time ago love's been the best motivator one can muster, but I also know if you have a shortage of gettin' it ya make due. Considerin' that's what ya default to that says a lot about the sort of shit you put up with before you got here."

Because Yondu's walked both paths very well, and unreciprocated love still works. And whether it was unreciprocated romantic, like his for Stakar, or familial, like his for Peter, or platonic, like that for his team. It works better than hate ever did for him.

"Hate an' spite don't motivate me that much, I just use it when I gotta."