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.

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, read more

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

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.

Ambition is an idol, on whose wings great minds are carried only to extreme; to be sublimely great or to read more

Ambition is an idol, on whose wings great minds are carried only to extreme; to be sublimely great or to be nothing.

Aim at the sun and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if you read more

Aim at the sun and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if you had aimed at an object on a level with yourself.

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the read more

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

I had ambition not only to go farther than any man had ever been before, but as far as it read more

I had ambition not only to go farther than any man had ever been before, but as far as it was possible for a man to go.

Ambition can creep as well as soar.

Ambition can creep as well as soar.

Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.

Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.