Ambition quotes

Ambition

2.3K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.

2.3K quotes

Explore further

Browse quotes that often appear alongside ambition — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.

Quote collection

Ambition quotes (page 14 of 114)

Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.

Oscar Wilde Writer
Ambition

"Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more."

Read quote 8 likes
Ambition

"Don Quixote thought he could have made beautiful bird-cages and toothpicks if his brain had not been so full of ideas of chivalry. Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions."

Read quote 8 likes
Jim Rohn Author, Motivational Speaker
Ambition

"Ambition is at the very core of success and extraordinary achievement. Unlike greed, it's a powerful, creative and constructive force."

Read quote 8 likes
Julian Barnes Author
Ambition

"In my terms, I settled for the realities of life, and submitted to its necessities: if this, then that, and so the years passed. In Adrian's terms, I gave up on life, gave up on examining it, took it as it came. And so, for the first time, I began to feel a more general remorse - a feeling somewhere between self-pity and self-hatred - about my whole life. All of it. I had lost the friends of my youth. I had lost the love of my wife. I had abandoned the ambitions I had entertained. I had wanted life not to bother me too much, and had succeeded - and how pitiful that was."

Read quote 8 likes
Barack Obama Politician
Ambition

"There are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

Read quote 7 likes
Paz Vega Actress
Ambition

"My ambition is to not have to work any more. In 10 years I want to stop, and I want to be living with my family, taking care of my house. I want to be a housewife."

Read quote 7 likes
Edward Abbey Author, Environmentalist
Ambition

"My own ambition, my deepest and truest ambition, is to find within myself someday, somehow, the ability to do likewise, to do NOTHING - and find it enough."

Read quote 7 likes