--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I, perhaps, at that stage, had the kind…" description: "\"I, perhaps, at that stage, had the kind of ambition that others may have had; you know, namely based on the concept that if you were trained the world ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/ella-baker-10989_ambition_i-perhaps-at-that-stage-had-the-kind-of_2417942.jpg" --- # I, perhaps, at that stage, had the kind of ambition that… ![“I, perhaps, at that stage, had the kind of ambition that others may have had; you know, namely based on the concept that if you were trained the world was out there waiting for you to provide a certain kind of leadership and give you an opportunity. But with the Depression, I began to see that…” quote by Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/ella-baker-10989_ambition_i-perhaps-at-that-stage-had-the-kind-of_2417942.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/ella-baker-10989_ambition_i-perhaps-at-that-stage-had-the-kind-of_2417942.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/ella-baker-10989_ambition_i-perhaps-at-that-stage-had-the-kind-of_2417942.jpg) > “I, perhaps, at that stage, had the kind of ambition that others may have had; you know, namely based on the concept that if you were trained the world was out there waiting for you to provide a certain kind of leadership and give you an opportunity. But with the Depression, I began to see that there were certain social forces over which the individual had very little control.” [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition can feel empowering, yet social forces often limit individual influence. **In simple terms:** Big goals may be constrained by larger social forces. Key Takeaway Recognize external constraints while pursuing leadership. Themes ambition social dynamics leadership Mood reflective determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - career planning - community organizing - policy advocacy Key Concepts structural inequality agency historical context Questions to Reflect On - What social forces shape your goals? - How can you adapt leadership to these constraints? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on personal control can ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-know-2088835/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-began-1038529/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-ambition-6109527/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-depression-6109526/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-for-you/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Because of the colder weather, prosperity began to wind down into a long global depression that began around 1620. It proved drastically destabilizing. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dale-davidson/because-of-the-colder-weather-prosperity-began-to-wind-down-into-a/) [James Dale Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dale-davidson/) > [When I was a deacon, the ominous signs of the Great Depression began to appear. Tens of thousands lost their jobs. Money was scarce.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/when-i-was-a-deacon-the-ominous-signs-of-the-great-depression-began/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“As one 1935 study put it, boys and girls who were 15 or 16 in 1929 when the Depression began are no longer children;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/as-one-1935-study-put-it-boys-and-girls-who-were-15-or-16-in-1929/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) > [Me only have one ambition, y'know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/me-only-have-one-ambition-y-know-i-only-have-one-thing-i-really-like/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [I don't really have no ambition, you know. I only have one thing I'd like to see happen. I'd like to see mankind live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/i-don-t-really-have-no-ambition-you-know-i-only-have-one-thing-i-d/) [Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/) > [Rangers are a huge club with ambition and I know this is the right fit for me to progress my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemar-roofe/rangers-are-a-huge-club-with-ambition-and-i-know-this-is-the-right/) [Kemar Roofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemar-roofe/) > [If you have got a dream and you've got ambition, then go for it. You know, unless you try, you'll never know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-the-eagle/if-you-have-got-a-dream-and-you-ve-got-ambition-then-go-for-it-you/) [Eddie the Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-the-eagle/) > [Secret of my success was to have ambition and know minds of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhirubhai-ambani/secret-of-my-success-was-to-have-ambition-and-know-minds-of-men/) [Dhirubhai Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhirubhai-ambani/) > [Well, just remember--all your misery will be waiting for you at the door upon your exit, should you care to pick it up again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/well-just-remember-all-your-misery-will-be-waiting-for-you-at-the/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I believe there is another world waiting for us. A better world. And I'll be waiting for you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-believe-there-is-another-world-waiting-for-us-a-better-world-and-i/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [What if the world is holding its breath - waiting for you to take the place that only you can fill?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/what-if-the-world-is-holding-its-breath-waiting-for-you-to-take-the/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [RIGHT HERE WAITING FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kas/right-here-waiting-for-you-and-only-you/) [KAS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kas/) > [I will be like this forever.I am still standing where you left me waiting. Just you touch me and I will be alive once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/i-will-be-like-this-forever-i-am-still-standing-where-you-left-me/) [Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/) > [When you follow your bliss a kind of track opens up, that's always been there, waiting for you. And the life that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-follow-your-bliss-a-kind-of-track-opens-up-that-s-always/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More by Ella Baker > [In order to see where we are going, we not only must remember where we have been, but we must understand where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/in-order-to-see-where-we-are-going-we-not-only-must-remember-where-we/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [The major job was getting people to understand that they had something within their power that they could use, and it could only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/the-major-job-was-getting-people-to-understand-that-they-had/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [After the '57 initial meeting - I was up this way working, not as a staff person - there became the need for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/after-the-57-initial-meeting-i-was-up-this-way-working-not-as-a-staff/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [My theory is, strong people don't need strong leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/my-theory-is-strong-people-don-t-need-strong-leaders/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Oppressed people, whatever their level of formal education, have the ability to understand and interpret the world around them, to see the world for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/oppressed-people-whatever-their-level-of-formal-education-have-the/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I went to what is known as, and was at that time, too, Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. In fact, because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-went-to-what-is-known-as-and-was-at-that-time-too-shaw-university/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Strong people don't need strong leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/strong-people-don-t-need-strong-leaders/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [His name was Michael R. Ross. I've never known what the "R" was for. He died, however, before I was 7. But he and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/his-name-was-michael-r-ross-i-ve-never-known-what-the-r-was-for-he/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I guess the best way to describe that would be to connect with the fact that I came out of college just before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-guess-the-best-way-to-describe-that-would-be-to-connect-with-the/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist party and all the rest of the Left forces, which were oriented in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were-in-the-communist-party-and/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ I didn't have any close relationship with him because, although \[William Edward Burghardt\] DuBois may not have been as egocentric - I don't know… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-didn-t-have-any-close-relationship-with-him-because-although/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ \[Walter White\] was also one of the best lobbyist of the period. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/walter-white-was-also-one-of-the-best-lobbyist-of-the-period/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I think, to be honest, sort of emanated from the initial work of somebody else instead of SCLC. If you take Albany; I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-think-to-be-honest-sort-of-emanated-from-the-initial-work-of/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/we-who-believe-in-freedom-cannot-rest-until-it-comes/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I didn't break the rules, but I challenged the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-didn-t-break-the-rules-but-i-challenged-the-rules/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) [Explore all 62 Ella Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I, perhaps, at that stage, had the kind of ambition that others may have had; you know, namely based on the concept that if you were trained the world was out there waiting for you to provide a certain kind of leadership and give you an opportunity. 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