All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.
—Timothy Leary (1920–96) American Psychologist, Author
Ambition never comes to an end.
—Yoshida Kenko (1283–1352) Japanese Poet, Essayist
Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
The thrust of ambition is, and always has been, great, but among the bright-eyed it had once a more adventurous and individualistic air, a much more bracing rivalry.
—Louis Kronenberger (1904–80) American Critic, Novelist, Biographer, Dramatist
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Though ambition itself is a vice, it is often the parent of virtues.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
The passion of self-aggrandizement is persistent but plastic; it will never disappear from a vigorous mind, but may become morally higher by attaching itself to a larger conception of what constitutes the self.
—Charles Cooley (1864–1929) American Sociologist
Ambition has but one reward for all: A little power, a little transient fame; A grave to rest in, and a fading name!
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
We grow small trying to be great.
—E. Stanley Jones (1884–1973) American Methodist Priest, Theologian
I had ambition not only to go farther than any man had ever been before, but as far as it was possible for a man to go.
—James Cook (1728–79) English Explorer, Cartographer
Though ambition may be a fault in itself, it is often the mother of virtues.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
No man rises so high as he knows not whither he goes.
—Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) British Head of State, Military Leader
Obstacles are the things we see when we take our eyes off our goals.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
—W. W. Ziege
The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men, — from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. The sentiment of love, the sentiment of maternity, the sentiment of the paramount obligation of the parent to the child as having called it into existence, enhanced just in proportion to the power and knowledge of the one and the weakness and ignorance of the other.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
—Langston Hughes (1902–67) American Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Short Story Writer, Columnist
What is my loftiest ambition? I’ve always wanted to throw an egg into an electric fan.
—Oliver Herford (1863–1935) American Writer, Artist, Illustrator
Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–93) English Playwright, Poet, Translator
God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into the nest.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Novelist, Poet
Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I’d place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.
—Hugh Walpole (1884–1941) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Dramatist
From its very beginnings ambition was a political word, born of the Latin ambitus, the walking around that a Roman politician did when buttering up the voters.
—Dero A. Saunders (1914–2002) American Journalist, Scholar
You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Ambition is to the mind what the cap is to the falcon; it blinds us first, and then compels us to tower by reason of our blindness.
—Charles Caleb Colton (1780–1832) English Angelic Priest, Writer, Collector
Ambition is a vice, but it may be the father of virtue.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
An ounce of hypocrisy is worth a pound of ambition.
—Michael Korda
Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast, that however high we reach, we are never satisfied.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
No matter how good you get you can always get better and that’s the exciting part.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
Pride is still aiming at the best houses: Men would be angels, angels would be gods. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; aspiring to be angels men rebel.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
If you can imagine it,
You can achieve it.
If you can dream it,
You can become it.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
There are only two ways of getting on in the world; by one’s own industry, or by the stupidity of others.
—Jean de La Bruyere
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined! As you simplify your life, the laws of the Universe will be simpler, solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
When we do more than we are paid to do, eventually we will be paid more for what we do.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Ambition and love are the wings to great deeds.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The tragedy is that so many have ambition and so few have ability.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
The only way to coast is downhill.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Ambition is the subtlest beast of the intellectual and moral field. It is wonderfully adroit in concealing itself from its owner.
—John Adams (1735–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
How like a mounting devil in the heart rules the unreined ambition.
—Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–67) American Poet, Playwright, Essayist
I think my greatest ambition in life is to pass on to others what I know.
—Frank Sinatra (1915–1998) American Singer
Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition… I have no other so great as that of being truely esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated; you can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945) British Liberal Statesman
The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Children, you must remember something. A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Keep your feet on the ground, but let your heart soar as high as it will. Refuse to be average or to surrender to the chill of your spiritual environment.
—A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) American Christian Pastor, Preacher, Author, Editor
Ambition is the last refuge of the failure.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet
It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Obviously, there is little you can learn from doing nothing.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Essayist
A life spent in constant labor is a life wasted, save a man be such a fool as to regard a fulsome obituary notice as ample reward.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor