Quotes About Ambition

For as long as we have been a species, whether with medicine or technology, by gathering power, by embarking on journeys, or by telling stories, we humans have tried to defeat death. None of us ever has.

They'll say you're too little, Werner, that you're from nowhere, that you shouldn't dream big. But I believe in you Werner. I think you'll do something great. -All The Light We Cannot See

At night Ward tossed in self-loathing: how, he wondered, can you want something so badly, finally get it, and yet wind up discontented? And how can it happen so quickly? When he finally could sink into sleep his dreams boiled with faceless devils; he woke--gasping--with their talons on his windpipe.

Insecure people don't get threatened by dreams; they get threatened by dreamers who move forward into those dreams.

the only person who knows your path to greatness is you.

You can't be a bird, then cry about not being able to fly.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 46–44 B.C.

yet eager to command others;

and called for Augustus to be appointed dictator.

Wanting to prove himself as a general, he invaded the rest of Gaul (central and northern France and Belgium).

but to bear in mind what Caesar, who had eliminated all his enemies, suffered at the hands of his closest friends.

Caesar himself almost certainly did not aim at kingship.

For himself he wanted a high command, an army and a war in some field where his gifts could shine in all their brightness.

in February of 44 B.C. he had himself declared dictator for life.

The first was Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a year younger than Gaius.

He was pleased to receive his colleague's ships, but had no serious intention of finding him his legions.

His first task was to prevent Brutus and Cassius from taking over Greece

Men pressed around Caesar in a tight scrum as each tried to stab him;

SHOWDOWN 32–31 B.C.

and wanted to replace Tiberius with Agrippa, and that Livia acted to defeat him.

He would accept the legacy, avenge his "father"'s death, and succeed to Caesar's power.

KILLING FIELDS 43–42 B.C.

He needed many new ships, but had neither money nor time to build them.

he would enjoy the power of a tribune without actually having to hold the post.