Ambition Quote by David Lipsky
“My ambition is to not embarrass myself--which, if you know me, is a pretty serious ambition.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
He humorously admits his main goal is to avoid personal embarrassment, reflecting a self‑critical yet earnest ambition.
In simple terms: He wants to avoid embarrassing himself.
Key Takeaway
Focus on humility and self‑awareness.
Themes
humor
self‑esteem
personal growth
ambition
vulnerability
Mood
lighthearted
introspective
Type
personal
motivational
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- social media presence
- career development
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
self‑reflection
confidence management
social anxiety
Questions to Reflect On
- What does avoiding embarrassment reveal about your values?
- How can you balance humility with confidence?
A Different Perspective
Self‑embarrassment can be a strong motivator but may limit risk‑taking.
![“He [David Foster Wallace] compares raising children to raising books, you should take pride in the work you do inside a family and not from how they make out in the world. “It’s good to want a child to do well, but it’s bad to want that glory to reflect back on you,” is what he says.” quote by David Lipsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a4b/david-lipsky-30389_books_he-david-foster-wallace-compares-raising_1575049.jpg)
![“Books are a social substitute; you read people who, at one level, you'd like to hang out with. [David Foster Wallace]'s writing self--it's most pronounced in his essays--was the best friend you'd ever have, spotting everything, whispering jokes, sweeping you past what was irritating or boring or…” quote by David Lipsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f4/david-lipsky-30389_best-friend_books-are-a-social-substitute-you-read-p_2172757.jpg)
