Definitions HQ

Ambition (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠simply a struggle to overcome one's neighbour.

Ambition (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠wanting power even at an obvious cost in happiness and well-being — unlike political parties, which want power for the happiness it provides.

Ambition (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is insatiable exercises its ultimate prudence by concealing its contempt for flatterers and appearing gracious to them, like a god who cannot be otherwise.

Ambition (n.) in ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the Greek artist was to win before his own seat of judgement, and Aeschylus and Euripides failed until they had educated judges to their own standards.

Ambition (n.) beyond ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠one's capacity breeds a wicked falseness — counterfeiters who arouse mistrust against great things until they are false even before themselves.

Ambition (n.) deserves ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the question Zarathustra puts to higher men: are you climbing, or pushed upward by what is basest in you, fleeing yourselves?

Ambition (n.) for ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠something great makes every person met a means, a delay, or a resting place — and condemns one to comedy until one reaches the height; even war is a comedy.

Ambition (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a surrogate for moral feeling: the ambitious get on almost as well without it — which is why sons of unambitious families who lose it sink straight into good-for-nothings.

Ambition (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the striving for distinction, and so the striving for domination over the next man: it enjoys not having cheered him but having impressed itself on his soul, changed its shape and ruled it at will.