Ambition Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald
““This general eclipse of ambition and determination and fortitude, all of the very qualities on which I have prided myself, is ridiculous, and, I must admit, somewhat obscene.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great Gatsby, 1925
The speaker mocks his own loss of ambition, determination, and fortitude, calling it absurd and obscene.
In simple terms: He feels his proud qualities have vanished, which he finds ridiculous.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when pride blinds self‑assessment.
Themes
pride
self‑reflection
absurdity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- career disappointment
- personal crisis
- self‑evaluation
Key Concepts
existentialism
ego
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your sense of ambition?
- How do you handle loss of purpose?
A Different Perspective
May overlook external factors influencing motivation.
![“[W]e all incline in astonishingly personal ways to idiocy and spite” quote by Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/136/alain-de-botton-221_quote_w-e-all-incline-in-astonishingly-persona_74786.jpg)
