---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is…"
description: "\"Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy and honourable ways.\" — Francesco Guicciar..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/francesco-guicciardini-20043_ambition_ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is_2718300.png"
---

#  Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be…

![“Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy and honourable ways.” quote by Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/francesco-guicciardini-20043_ambition_ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is_2718300.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/francesco-guicciardini-20043_ambition_ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is_2718300.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/francesco-guicciardini-20043_ambition_ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is_2718300.png)

> “Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy and honourable ways.”

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ambition itself isn’t evil; seeking fame honorably is acceptable, while condemning only those with corrupt motives.

**In simple terms:** Ambition can be good if pursued honorably.

Key Takeaway

Pursue ambitions with integrity.

Themes

politics ethics ambition honor fame

Mood

reflective inspirational thoughtful

Type

political ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- public service
- personal development
- ethical decision‑making

Key Concepts

Renaissance political thought moral philosophy leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines an honorable ambition?
- How can you keep ambition aligned with values?

A Different Perspective

Ambition can become destructive without moral guidance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-evil-2861519/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-worthy-1442286/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/) [Worthy Honourable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy-honourable-2861518/)

## Related quotes

> [In my mind, I always felt like I was worthy. I really felt like, with my career and just the way I did it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/in-my-mind-i-always-felt-like-i-was-worthy-i-really-felt-like-with-my/)

[Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/)

> [Ambition is but the evil shadow of aspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ambition-is-but-the-evil-shadow-of-aspiration/)

[George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/)

> [“Famine is good to the corn-merchant, evil to the poor, and indifferent to those whose fortunes can at all times command a superfluity. Ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/famine-is-good-to-the-corn-merchant-evil-to-the-poor-and-indifferent/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“A place in the sun, that's what I am aiming for... and who could ever ask for more?' -Columbine to Pierrot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/a-place-in-the-sun-that-s-what-i-am-aiming-for-and-who-could-ever-ask/)

[Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/)

> [Being a celebrity or anything else where you're really ambitious, it's really a game to see how successful you can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/being-a-celebrity-or-anything-else-where-you-re-really-ambitious-it-s/)

[Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/)

> [Wisdom alone is true ambition's aim, wisdom the source of virtue, and of fame, obtained with labour, for mankind employed, and then, when most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/wisdom-alone-is-true-ambition-s-aim-wisdom-the-source-of-virtue-and/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/)

[Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/)

> [Our acts of kindness we reserve for our friends, our bounties for our dependants, our riches for our children and relations, our praises for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/our-acts-of-kindness-we-reserve-for-our-friends-our-bounties-for-our/)

[Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you have not done things worthy of being written about, at least write things worthy of being read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/if-you-have-not-done-things-worthy-of-being-written-about-at-least/)

[Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/)

> [Each child’s story is worthy of telling. There shouldn’t be a sliding scale of death. The weight of it is crushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/each-child-s-story-is-worthy-of-telling-there-shouldn-t-be-a-sliding/)

[Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/)

> [Tobacco is the passion of honest men and he who lives without tobacco is not worthy of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/tobacco-is-the-passion-of-honest-men-and-he-who-lives-without-tobacco/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/)

[Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/)

> [“We are saved not because we are worthy. We are saved because we are loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/we-are-saved-not-because-we-are-worthy-we-are-saved-because-we-are/)

[Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/)

## More by Francesco Guicciardini

> [We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [Be careful how you do one man a pleasure which must needs occasion equal displeasure in another. For he who is thus slighted will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/be-careful-how-you-do-one-man-a-pleasure-which-must-needs-occasion/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [How much luckier than all the rest of mankind are the astrologers who, if they tell one truth among a hundred lies, obtain so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/how-much-luckier-than-all-the-rest-of-mankind-are-the-astrologers-who/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/affairs-that-depend-on-many-rarely-succeed/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/ambassadors-are-the-eye-and-ear-of-states/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [To relinquish a present good through apprehension of a future evil is in most instances unwise ... from a fear which may afterwards turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/to-relinquish-a-present-good-through-apprehension-of-a-future-evil-is/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [Even though many people prove to be ungrateful, do not let that stop you from benefiting others-for not only is beneficence in itself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/even-though-many-people-prove-to-be-ungrateful-do-not-let-that-stop/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [The affairs of this world are so shifting and depend on so many accidents, that it is hard to form any judgment concerning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/the-affairs-of-this-world-are-so-shifting-and-depend-on-so-many/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/experience-has-always-shown-and-reason-also-that-affairs-which-depend/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [There is no evil in human affairs that has not some good mingled with it. \[It., Non e male alcuno nelle cose umane che…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/there-is-no-evil-in-human-affairs-that-has-not-some-good-mingled-with/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/to-give-vent-now-and-then-to-his-feelings-whether-of-pleasure-or/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [There is nothing so fleeting as the memory of benefits received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/there-is-nothing-so-fleeting-as-the-memory-of-benefits-received/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [I know no man who feels deeper disgust than I do at the ambition, avarice, and profligacy of the priesthood, as well because every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/i-know-no-man-who-feels-deeper-disgust-than-i-do-at-the-ambition/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [ Keep your eye fixed not so much on what they \[people\] ought in reason to do, as on what they are likely to do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/keep-your-eye-fixed-not-so-much-on-what-they-people-ought-in-reason/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

> [The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/the-return-we-reap-from-generous-actions-is-not-always-evident/)

[Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

[Explore all 30 Francesco Guicciardini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/)

## 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": "Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy and honourable ways.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Francesco Guicciardini"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is-he-to-be-condemned-whose/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ambition"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is-he-to-be-condemned-whose/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/francesco-guicciardini-20043_ambition_ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is_2718300.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/francesco-guicciardini-20043_ambition_ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is_2718300.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/francesco-guicciardini-20043_ambition_ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is_2718300.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ambition is not in itself an evil; nor is he to be condemned whose spirit prompts him to seek fame by worthy…” — Francesco Guicciardini",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Francesco Guicciardini",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ambition is not in itself an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is-he-to-be-condemned-whose/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/ambition-is-not-in-itself-an-evil-nor-is-he-to-be-condemned-whose/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```