Ambition Quote by Adam Phillips
““So there is something perhaps more difficult to conceive of, sometimes born of resignation and sometimes not- a life in which not getting it is the point and not the problem; in which the project is to learn how not to ride the bicycle, how not to understand the poem. Or to put it the other way round, this would be a life in which getting it – the will to get it, the ambition to get it – was the problem; in which wanting to be an accomplice didn’t take precedence over making up one’s mind.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Times, Adam Phillips, 2005
Seeking meaning through avoidance can create a paradox where the goal becomes the obstacle.
In simple terms: Avoiding goals can make them harder to achieve.
Key Takeaway
Identify and confront hidden motivations.
Themes
meaning
paradox
motivation
self‑deception
Mood
introspective
critical
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- career choices
- creative projects
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What are you avoiding that you claim is a goal?
- How does avoidance shape your identity?
A Different Perspective
Denial may protect short‑term comfort but hinders growth.
![“The child..will try to make himself..independent of other people. .. Excesses of appetite are self-cures for feelings of hopelessness. ..The child [uses] ‘doubt about food to hide doubt about love.’” quote by Adam Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/154/adam-phillips-18270_appetite_the-child-will-try-to-make-himself-indep_1066864.jpg)
