A view of the Marangoni effect from the perspectives of all three possible interfaces as motion inducing agents is given. Arguments are made that it is required and sufficient that surface tension gradient at the substrate surface induce the flow while the liquid vapor surface tension gradient is unable to induce a flow on its own; that the flow is toward a lower interface potential at the wall liquid interface; and that this is an appropriate way of viewing the Marangoni effect is demonstrated with examples. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.