To be ambitious of true honor, of the true glory and perfection of our natures, is the very principle and read more

To be ambitious of true honor, of the true glory and perfection of our natures, is the very principle and incentive of virtue.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where read more

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

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.

Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.

Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.

But what will not ambition and revenge
Descend to? who aspires must down as low
As high read more

But what will not ambition and revenge
Descend to? who aspires must down as low
As high he soar'd, obnoxious first and last
To basest things.

Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we would storm
heaven itself in our folly.
[Lat., read more

Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we would storm
heaven itself in our folly.
[Lat., Nil mortalibus arduum est:
Coelum ipsum petimus stultitia.]

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring read more

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.

For all may have,
If they dare to try, a glorious life, or grave.

For all may have,
If they dare to try, a glorious life, or grave.

Oh, sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise.
By mountains pil'd on mountains to the skies?
read more

Oh, sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise.
By mountains pil'd on mountains to the skies?
Heav'n still with laughter the vain toil surveys,
And buries madmen in the heaps they raise.