You have to be a bastard to make it, and that’s a fact. And the Beatles are the biggest bastards on earth.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
If you wish to reach the highest, begin at the lowest.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Action often precedes the feeling.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
When performance exceeds ambition, the overlap is called success.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
Where ambition ends happiness begins.
—Unknown
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
No matter how good you get you can always get better and that’s the exciting part.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
The tallest trees are most in the power of the winds, and ambitious men of the blasts of fortune.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
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
Do it, and then you will feel motivated to do it.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Ambition makes the same mistake concerning power that avarice makes concerning wealth. She begins by accumulating power as a means to happiness, and she finishes by continuing to accumulate it as an end.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Ambition, fueled by compassion, wisdom and integrity, is a powerful force for good that will turn the wheels of industry and open the doors of opportunity for you and countless others.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Ambition is not what man does… but what man would do.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
Ambition thinks no face so beautiful, as that which looks from under a crown.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
We must love stupid people better than ourselves; are they not the really unfortunate ones of this world? Do not people without taste and without ideal grow constantly weary, rejoicing in nothing, and being quite useless here below?
—George Sand (1804–76) French Novelist, Dramatist
So many worlds, so much to do,
So little done, such things to be.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
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
If we don’t start, it’s certain we can’t arrive.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Ambition is the last refuge of the failure.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Think. Think about your appearance, associations, actions, ambitions, accomplishment.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
The slave has but one master; the man of ambition has as many as there are people useful to his fortune.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
—Kenny Rogers (1938–2020) American Country, Pop Singer, Actor
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
The only way to coast is downhill.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
If your energy is as boundless as your ambition, total commitment may be a way of life you should seriously consider.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
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
To be ambitious of true honor and of the real glory and perfection of our nature is the very principle and incentive of virtue; but to be ambitious of titles, place, ceremonial respects, and civil pageantry, is as vain and little as the things are which we court.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier