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.

I strike the stars with by sublime head.
[Lat., Sublimi feriam sidera vertice.]

I strike the stars with by sublime head.
[Lat., Sublimi feriam sidera vertice.]

The noblest spirit is most strongly attracted by the love of glory.

The noblest spirit is most strongly attracted by the love of glory.

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

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.

Ambition often puts men upon doing the meanest offices; so climbing is performed in the same position with creeping.

Ambition often puts men upon doing the meanest offices; so climbing is performed in the same position with creeping.

The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.

The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.

When ambition ends, happiness begins.

When ambition ends, happiness begins.

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.