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A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by read more
A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires.
Ambition is the last refuge of failure.
Ambition is the last refuge of failure.
If at great things thou would'st arrive,
Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap,
Not difficult, read more
If at great things thou would'st arrive,
Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap,
Not difficult, if thou hearken to me;
Riches are mine, fortune is in my hand,
They whom I favor thrive in wealth amain,
While virtue, valor, wisdom, sit in want.
By low ambition and the thirst of praise.
By low ambition and the thirst of praise.
But wild Ambition loves to slide, not stand,
And Fortune's ice prefers to Virtue's land.
But wild Ambition loves to slide, not stand,
And Fortune's ice prefers to Virtue's land.
Ambition never comes to an end.
Ambition never comes to an end.
On what strange stuff Ambition feeds!
On what strange stuff Ambition feeds!
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.
On the summit see,
The seals of office glitter in his eyes;
He climbs, he pants, he read more
On the summit see,
The seals of office glitter in his eyes;
He climbs, he pants, he grasps them! At his heels,
Close at his heels, a demagogue ascends,
And with a dexterous jerk soon twists him down,
And wins them, but to lose them in his turn.
