Quotes About Ambition

Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.

Besides, in drawing the picture of my early days, I also record those events which led, by insensible steps, to my after tale of misery, for when I would account to myself for the birth of that passion which afterwards ruled my destiny I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but, swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys. Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate;

Be a man, or be more than a man.

One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race. As

Sentía en el corazón el ansia de hacerme conocer y querer por aquellas criaturas adorables; ver sus dulces rostros vueltos hacia mí con afecto era mi máxima ambición.

Imparate da me, se non dai miei precetti, almeno dal mio esempio, quanto sia pericolosa l'acquisizione della conoscenza, e quanto sia più felice quell'uomo che ha per mondo la sua città natale, di colui che aspira a una grandezza maggiore di quella che la sua natura gli concede.

Success shall crown my endeavors. Wherefore not? Thus far I have gone, tracing a secure way over the pathless seas, the very stars themselves being witnesses and testimonies of my triumph. Why not still proceed over the untamed yet obedient element? What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?

It was not in her nature to stop short at half-measures, not to pause when once she had fixed her purpose. If she ever trembled on looking forward to the utter ruin she was about to encounter, her second emotion was to despise herself for such pusillanimity, and to be roused to renewed energy.

He [Shelley] told me that he had had many visions lately; he had seen the figure of himself, which met him as he walked on the terrace and said to him, 'How long do you mean to be content?

Si ningún hombre permitiese que ambición alguna se interpusiera en la tranquilidad de sus afectos domésticos, Grecia no hubiese sido esclavizada, Cesar habría conservado su país, América seria descubierta mas gradualmente y los imperios de México y el Perú no habrían sido destruidos.

I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of my own creation; I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated.

A truce to philosophy!—Life is before me, and I rush into possession. Hope, glory, love, and blameless ambition are my guides, and my soul knows no dread. What has been, though sweet, is gone; the present is good only because it is about to change, and the to come is all my own.

how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.

Seek happiness in tranquillity, and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries.

i que és molt més feliç aquell home per al qual el poble natal és el món sencer que no pas aquell que vol esdevenir més gran del que la seva natura li permet.

how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.

Qué peligrosa es la adquisición de conocimiento y cuán más feliz es el hombre que cree que su pueblo es el mundo, que el que aspira a ser más grandioso de lo que le permite su naturaleza

It was very different, when the masters of the science sought immortality and power; such views, although futile, were grand: but now the scene was changed. The ambition of the inquirer seemed to limit itself to the annihilation of those visions on which my interest in science was chiefly founded. I was required to exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur for realities of little worth.

at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.

I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.

After days and nights of incredible labour and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I

The ambition of the inquirer seemed to limit itself to the annihilation of those visions on which my interest in science was chiefly founded. I was required to exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur for realities of little worth.

Imparate da me, se non dai miei consigli, almeno dal mio esempio quanto sia pericolosa l'acquisizione della conoscenza e quanto è più felice quell'uomo che crede che la sua città natia sia il mondo, di colui che aspira a diventare più grande di quanto la sua natura gli permetta.

My life might have been passed in ease and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path.