You May Also Like / View all maxioms
Ambition is the last refuge of failure.
Ambition is the last refuge of failure.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
The noblest spirit is most strongly attracted by the love of glory.
The noblest spirit is most strongly attracted by the love of glory.
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.