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
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 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
An ounce of hypocrisy is worth a pound of ambition.
—Michael Korda (b.1933) English-born Writer, Novelist
When ambition ends, happiness begins.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
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
Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us. Its appetite grows keener by indulgence and all we can gratify it with at present serves but the more to inflame its insatiable desires.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
I want to work with the top people, because only they have the courage and the confidence and the risk-seeking profile that you need.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
It is a psychological law that whatever we desire to accomplish we must impress upon the subjective or subconscious mind; that is, we must register a vow with ourselves, we must make our resolution with vigor, with faith that we can do the thing we want to do; we must register our conviction with such intensity that the great creative forces within us will tend to realize them. Our impressions will become expressions just in proportion to the vigor with which we register our vows to accomplish our ambitions, to make our visions realities.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
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
As falls the dew on quenchless sands, blood only serves to wash ambition’s hands.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
A lot of people quit looking for work as soon as they find a job.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Ambition can creep as well as soar.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
What I aspired to be and was not, comforts me.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Time is the only critic without ambition.
—John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist
Ambition is the last infirmity of noble minds.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
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
Ambition, having reached the summit, longs to descend.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
Ambition and fleas jump high.
—German Proverb
All of us perform better and more willingly when we know why we’re doing what we have been told or asked to do.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Of all kinds of ambition, that which pursues poetical fame is the wildest.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Wisdom alone is true ambition’s aim, wisdom is the source of virtue and of fame; obtained with labour, for mankind employed, and then, when most you share it, best enjoyed.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
Meanness looks through one eye only, ambition is blind.
—Russian Proverb
It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what other men say in whole books – what other men do not say in whole books.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
He who sacrifices his conscience to ambition burns a picture to obtain the ashes.
—Chinese Proverb