Definitions HQ

Ambition (n.) survives ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠every vow of retirement: the exile swore he would never set foot in the palace again, and forgot it all at the first dispatch from Caesar.

Ambition (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠outruns ability is a man who cannot lift ten pounds trying to lift the rock of Ajax — wanting to be a philosopher before managing to be human.

Ambition (n.) and ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its fearful opposite are one disease: thirsting for office is fever, dreading it is rabies — the craving and the horror of water.

Ambition (n.) costs ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠sleepless nights, hand-kissing and rotting at other men's doors — and buys twelve bundles of rods and lunches handed out in baskets.

Ambition (n.) split ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠between freedom and riches usually wins neither: aim at office and wealth too, and you may miss the wealth and will certainly miss the freedom.