--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When ambitious men find an open passage…" description: "\"When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather busy than dangerous; and if well watched in their proceedings, they will catch them selves in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage_2949597.jpg" --- # When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather… ![“When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather busy than dangerous; and if well watched in their proceedings, they will catch them selves in their own snare, and prepare a way for their own destruction.” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage_2949597.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage_2949597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage_2949597.jpg) > “When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather busy than dangerous; and if well watched in their proceedings, they will catch them selves in their own snare, and prepare a way for their own destruction.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambitious people who act without caution become trapped by their own schemes. **In simple terms:** Ambition without caution leads to self‑destruction Key Takeaway Beware overconfidence and plan carefully Themes ambition self‑sabotage warning Mood cautionary reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political power - business ventures - personal goals - strategic planning Key Concepts human nature hubris Questions to Reflect On - What checks can prevent reckless ambition? - When have you seen ambition backfire? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can create self‑inflicted traps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Ambitious man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious-man/) [Ambitious Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious-men-1627678/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Watched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-watched-4439726/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-open-2249885/) [Passages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages/) [Proceeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceeding/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Selves Snare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selves-snare-4439725/) [Snares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snares/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [ They \[i.e. ambitious men\] may not cease, but as a dog in a wheel, a bird in a cage, or a squirrel in a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/they-i-e-ambitious-men-may-not-cease-but-as-a-dog-in-a-wheel-a-bird/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) > [Some handsome and ambitious men believe they are above all morality, and a woman's virtue becomes a mere challenge to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/some-handsome-and-ambitious-men-believe-they-are-above-all-morality/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Thinking men cannot be ruled; ambitious men do not stagnate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/thinking-men-cannot-be-ruled-ambitious-men-do-not-stagnate/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [But I have noticed this about ambitious men, or men in power, that they fear even the slightest and least likely threat to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stewart/but-i-have-noticed-this-about-ambitious-men-or-men-in-power-that-they/) [Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stewart/) > [Ambitious men spend their youth in rendering themselves worthy of patronage; it is their great mistake. While the foolish creatures are laying in stores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/ambitious-men-spend-their-youth-in-rendering-themselves-worthy-of/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You're three or four different men but each of them out in the open. Like all Americans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-re-three-or-four-different-men-but-each-of-them-out-in-the-open/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [It is nothing won to admit men with an open door, and to receive them with a shut and reserved countenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-is-nothing-won-to-admit-men-with-an-open-door-and-to-receive-them/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Few are open to conviction, but the majority of men are open to persuasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/few-are-open-to-conviction-but-the-majority-of-men-are-open-to/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [But it doesn't take a thousand men to open a door, my lord." "It might to keep it open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/but-it-doesn-t-take-a-thousand-men-to-open-a-door-my-lord-it-might-to/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Like dogs in a wheel, birds in a cage, or squirrels in a chain, ambitious men still climb and climb, with great labor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-dogs-in-a-wheel-birds-in-a-cage-or-squirrels-in-a-chain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a maxim in philosophy that ambitious men can be never good counselors to princes; the desire of having more is common to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/it-is-a-maxim-in-philosophy-that-ambitious-men-can-be-never-good/) [Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/) > [“It was a sad truth that all the masses of men in their causes would be led by ambitious men, by power-hungry, cunningly self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oakley-hall/it-was-a-sad-truth-that-all-the-masses-of-men-in-their-causes-would/) [Oakley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oakley-hall/) > [The tallest Trees are most in the Power of the Winds, and Ambitious Men of the Blasts of Fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/the-tallest-trees-are-most-in-the-power-of-the-winds-and-ambitious/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“All ambitious men want either to please their fathers or to punch them in the goddamned face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/all-ambitious-men-want-either-to-please-their-fathers-or-to-punch/) [Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/) > [“When ambitious men overcome a dynasty and seize power, they inevitably adopt most of the ways of their predecessors. —THE Muqaddimah OF IBN KHALDÛN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-r-king/when-ambitious-men-overcome-a-dynasty-and-seize-power-they-inevitably/) [Laurie R. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-r-king/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/read-not-books-alone-but-men-and-amongst-them-chiefly-thyself/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Explore all 212 Francis Quarles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## 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": "When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather busy than dangerous; and if well watched in their proceedings, they will catch them selves in their own snare, and prepare a way for their own destruction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Quarles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage-they-are-rather-busy-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage-they-are-rather-busy-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage_2949597.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage_2949597.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage_2949597.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather busy than dangerous; and if well watched in their…” — Francis Quarles", "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": "Francis Quarles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When ambitious men find an open...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage-they-are-rather-busy-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage-they-are-rather-busy-than/#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 } } ] } ```