Quotes about Ambition

Those who strive are often watched by others who will take advantage of their defeat to benefit themselves.

A 'good job' can be both practically attractive while still not good enough to devote your entire life to.

Getting to the top has an unfortunate tendency to persuade people that the system is OK after all.

We will live in more beautiful, wise and humane communities when we have learnt to reorient the system of ambition, when the most driven and energetic individuals have the chance to win honour through work that taps into mankind's highest needs.

If you want to build a ship, don't summon people to buy wood, prepare tools, distribute jobs, and organize the work, rather teach people the yearning for the wide, boundless ocean.

As for myself, I have found my perfect pattern in Jesus, who said, "The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." I am no longer motivated by personal ambition. I have discovered a sweeter, purer motive: simply to please my Father.

No one should be surprised at the difficulty of faith, if there is some part of his life where he is consciously resisting or disobeying the commandment of Jesus. Is there some part of your life which you are refusing to surrender at his behest, some sinful passion, maybe, or some animosity, some hope, perhaps your ambition or your reason? ... How can you hope to enter into communion with him when at some point in your life you are running away from him?

There is always a danger that in our asceticism we shall be tempted to imitate the sufferings of Christ. This is a pious but godless ambition, for beneath it there always lurks the notion that it is possible for us to step into Christ's shoes and suffer as he did and kill the old Adam. We are then presuming to undertake that bitter work of eternal redemption which Christ himself wrought for us. The motive of asceticism was more limited--to equip us for better service and deeper humiliation.

I'm gonna be making records anyway, even if I had to sell 'em out of the trunk of my car. I'm that kind of musician and singer.

Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!

Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner.

If I had to single out one element in my life that has made a difference for me, it would be a passion to compete.