All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward…
“All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. All intellectual and artistic ambitions are permissible, up to and even beyond the limit of prudent sanity. They can hurt no one.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Ambitions that exploit human suffering are immoral; creative pursuits are acceptable if they stay within sane bounds.
In simple terms: Only harmful ambitions are wrong.
Key Takeaway
Pursue ethical creativity.
Themes
ethics
ambition
humanity
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing ethically
- evaluating project impact
- balancing ambition with sanity
- social responsibility in art
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
creative freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a "prudent" limit for artistic ambition?
- Can harmful ambition ever be justified?
A Different Perspective
Ambition can still cause unintended harm.