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.

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.

On what strange stuff Ambition feeds!

On what strange stuff Ambition feeds!

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

Ambition is the last refuge of failure.

Ambition is the last refuge of failure.

Very few people are ambitious in the sense of having a specific image of what they want to achieve. Most read more

Very few people are ambitious in the sense of having a specific image of what they want to achieve. Most people's sights are only toward the next run, the next increment of money.

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.

By low ambition and the thirst of praise.

By low ambition and the thirst of praise.

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.]