--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambition is not a weakness unless it be…" description: "\"Ambition is not a weakness unless it be disproportioned to the capacity. To have more ambition than ability is to be at once weak and unhappy.\" — Georg..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a8/george-stillman-hillard-22560_ability_ambition-is-not-a-weakness-unless-it-be_1792475.jpg" --- # Ambition is not a weakness unless it be disproportioned to… ![“Ambition is not a weakness unless it be disproportioned to the capacity. To have more ambition than ability is to be at once weak and unhappy.” quote by George Stillman Hillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a8/george-stillman-hillard-22560_ability_ambition-is-not-a-weakness-unless-it-be_1792475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a8/george-stillman-hillard-22560_ability_ambition-is-not-a-weakness-unless-it-be_1792475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a8/george-stillman-hillard-22560_ability_ambition-is-not-a-weakness-unless-it-be_1792475.jpg) > “Ambition is not a weakness unless it be disproportioned to the capacity. To have more ambition than ability is to be at once weak and unhappy.” [George Stillman Hillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stillman-hillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that ambition exceeding one's abilities leads to weakness and unhappiness, urging balance between desire and capacity **In simple terms:** Too much ambition harms happiness Key Takeaway Align ambition with realistic abilities Themes ambition balance well‑being Mood cautious motivational Type ethical self‑help When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - mental health Key Concepts self‑assessment goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What limits should you set on your ambitions? - How can you match goals to your strengths? A Different Perspective Ambition without ability can cause stress and failure ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-weak-1958347/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-ability-1958346/) [Ambition Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-weakness-1958345/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Capacity Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-ambition-1958348/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [“Ambition is the weakness of all the great spirits who in acceptance will find the joy & the despair the seek. 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