As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ambition requires resilience and strength to pursue one's goals.
In this quote, Shakespeare emphasizes that true ambition must be supported by a strong, determined character. It suggests that mere desire is not enough; one must possess the inner fortitude and resolve to face challenges and overcome obstacles in the pursuit of their aspirations.
Themes
AmbitionStrengthDeterminationSuccessResilience
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speech at a graduation ceremony.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes... but no plans.
Peter DruckerRead
Greatness begins beyond your comfort zone.
Robin SharmaRead
I have always said that after sport, I wanted a life, I wanted an opportunity, I wanted to be able to do something. And if something happens - the economy falls out or the dollar is worthless, anything could happen - you have to be ready to work. And I'm ready.
Venus WilliamsRead
Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.
Orison Swett MardenRead
You must accept that you might fail; then, if you do your best and still don't win, at least you can be satisfied that you've tried. If you don't accept failure as a possibility, you don't set high goals, you don't branch out, you don't try - you don't take the risk.
Rosalynn CarterRead
The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes.
Washington IrvingRead