Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make read more

Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where read more

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

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.

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.

Oh, sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise.
By mountains pil'd on mountains to the skies?
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Oh, sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise.
By mountains pil'd on mountains to the skies?
Heav'n still with laughter the vain toil surveys,
And buries madmen in the heaps they raise.

Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.

Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.rn

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.rn

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.

What I aspired to be and was not, comforts me.

What I aspired to be and was not, comforts me.