Quotes About Ambition

I couldn't write. I grew tense. I was strangled by my own ego, by my petty desire for what I perceived to be the literary brass ring. I was missing the point, of course. The reward is in the doing.

people who are driven by something—or better yet, drawn irresistibly to a goal—do not count being tired as a bad thing.

my thoughts were so entirely bent upon seeing the world

Thus blinded by my own vanity, I threw away the only opportunity I then had to have effectually settled my fortunes, and secured them for this world; and I am a memorial to all that shall read my story, a standing monument of the madness and distraction which pride and infatuations from hell run us into, how ill our passions guide us, and how dangerously we act when we follow the dictates of an ambitious mind.

And now, increasing in business and in wealth, my head began to be full of projects and undertakings beyond my reach; such as are indeed often the ruin of the best heads in business.

There can be a downside to the achievement drive: some people become workaholics, completely focused on their work goals and neglecting to live a full life. You can see this in students who are "grinds," driven to get the highest grades at the sacrifice of everything else in their lives, just as you see it in those successful executives who work 18-hour days all through the week – and in anyone who has perfectionistic standards.

Greatness and nearsightedness are incompatible. Meaningful achievement depends on lifting one's sights and pushing toward the horizon.

Let's go, let's go together toward something extraordinary and I started making plans, thinking we would get that far.

You know I want to be a director, but you could never truly see the movies in my head and that, Ed, is why we broke up.

I started making plans, thinking we would get that far

Y comencé a hacer planes, pensando que llegaríamos tan lejos.

After all, love is for people who are ready to dream big and risk everything. Unfortunately, so is prison.

To control one's own destiny takes a mastermind. To execute the plans takes a fool.

To control one's own destiny takes a mastermind. To execute the plans takes a fool.

That's the most important thing. If I keep reading, maybe I can hold my own.

Eu estava em uma escada rolante para baixo agora. Se eu ficasse parado, iria direto pra baixo, mas, se eu começasse a subir a escada, talvez conseguisse ao menos ficar no mesmo lugar. O importante era seguir me movendo pra cima independentemente do que acontecesse.

I guess Nemur's fear of being revealed as a man walking on stilts among giants is understandable. Failure at this point would destroy him.

For someone bent on achievement, education is a thing you get past and forget about as quickly as possible.

For example, children in school are never encouraged to want the material rewards of success. Success is something to be sought for its own sake, certainly not for any wealth it might bring.

You shouldn't have to settle for rabbits if what you want is deer.

If you've got the confidence and the work ethic, you can make any dream come true.

Self-confidence is the foundation of all great success and achievement.

My confidence came from always needing to compete.

I believe in myself so much that nothing is going to stop me.