Ambition Quote by Fernando Pessoa
““Whenever my ambition, influenced by my dreams, raised up above the everyday level of my life, so that for a moment I seemed to soar, like a child on a swing, I always – like the child – had to come down to the public garden and face my defeat, with no flags to wave in battle and no sword I was strong enough to unsheath.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Book of Disquiet, 1913
Ambition fueled by dreams can give a fleeting sense of soaring, but reality brings us back to ordinary life and its inevitable defeats.
In simple terms: Dream-driven ambition feels lofty but ends in ordinary setbacks.
Key Takeaway
Stay grounded despite lofty dreams.
Themes
ambition
reality
humility
disillusionment
Mood
reflective
melancholy
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career aspirations
- creative projects
- personal goals
- public performance
- handling failure
Key Concepts
existentialism
self-awareness
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance lofty dreams with everyday responsibilities?
- What signs tell you when ambition is becoming unrealistic?
A Different Perspective
Dreams may blind us to practical limits and lead to disappointment.
