Quotes About Ambition

Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil.

The great artists of finance like Morgan and Rockefeller weren't deflected. They wanted and got money, just simple money. What they did with it afterward is another matter. I've always felt they got scared of the ghost they raised and tried to buy it off.

We still go where we want, even if we got to crawl for the right.' - Tom Joad (Jr.)

For man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments.

Ad astra per alia porci (to the stars on the wings of a pig)

It's funny how you want to do a thing and never do it.

A good writer always works at the impossible.

What have I to fear but starvation? Kino asked.

Some children want to be babies and some want to be adults. Few are content with their age.

We still got a where we want, even if we got to crawl for the right.

George si alzò in piedi. «Ce la faremo,» disse. «Prenderemo quella casetta e andremo a viverci.» Tornò a sedersi. I tre stettero queti, tutti imbambolati nel portento della cosa, ciascuno lanciato nel futuro dove la cosa tanto bella si sarebbe avverata.

People moving [...] Movin' cause they got to [...] Movin' cause they want sompin better'n what they got. An' that's the on'y way they'll ever git it.

Se dice que los humanos no se satisfacen jamás, que se les da una cosa y siempre quieren algo más. Y se dice esto con erróneo desprecio, ya que es una de las mayores virtudes que tiene la especie y la que la hace superior a los animales que se dan por satisfechos con lo que tienen.

He used it to haul squids and he liked a fresh breeze to blow in his face. His name was Francis Almones and he had a sad life, for he always made just a fraction less than he needed to live.

Su sueño del futuro seguía siendo real e indestructible, había dicho «iré» y esto hacía también realidad la partida. Decidir marcharse y decirlo era como estar a medio camino.

If I could do this book properly it would be one of the really fine books and a truly American book. But I am assailed with my own ignorance and inability. I'll just have to work from a background of these. Honesty. If I can keep an honesty it is all I can expect of my poor brain. . . . If I can do that it will be all my lack of genius can produce. For no one else knows my lack of ability the way I do. I am pushing against it all the time.

Dar Fauna era convinsa, dintr-o indelungata experienta proprie, ca in primul rand oamenii nu stiu ce vor, ca in al doilea rand nu stiu cum sa obtina ceea ce vor si ca in al treilea rand nu stiu sa profite de ceea ce au.

I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened and inspired us, so that we live in a Pearl White serial of continuing thought and wonder. Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil. I think this is the only story we have and that it occurs on all levels of feeling and intelligence.

Most lives extend in a curve. There is a rise of ambition, a rounded peak of maturity, a gentle downward slope of disillusion and last a flattened grade of waiting for death.

Adam went on, "Every morning in the army that damned bugle would sound. And I swore to God if I ever got out I would sleep till noon every day. And here I get up a half-hour before reveille. Will you tell me, Charles, what in hell we're working for?" "You can't lay in bed and run a farm," said Charles. He stirred the hissing bacon around with a fork.

Jesus, I seen it happen too many times. I seen too many guys with land in their head. They never get none under their hand.

I say to you, without pleasure, that this son of ours will be a great man, because -- well -- because he is not very intelligent. He can see only one desire at a time. I said he tested his dreams; he will murder every dream with the implacable arrows of his will. This boy will win to every goal of his aiming; for he can realize no thought, no reason, but his own. And I am sorry for his coming greatness...

I seen too many guys with land in their head. They never get none under their hand.

He ain't no cuckoo," said George. "He's dumb as hell, but he ain't crazy. An' I ain't so bright neither, or I wouldn't be buckin' barley for my fifty and found. If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I'd have my own little place, an' I'd be bringin' in my own crops, 'stead of doin' all the work and not getting what comes up outta the ground.