Ambition Quote by H.G. Wells
““That afternoon it seemed all disappointment. I went over the heads of the things a man reckons desirable. No doubt invisibility made it possible to get them, but it made it impossible to enjoy them when they are got. Ambition—what is the good of pride of place when you cannot appear there? What is the good of the love of woman when her name must needs be Delilah?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, 1895
The speaker feels that achieving desires through invisibility removes the joy of attainment, questioning the value of ambition and love when one cannot be present.
In simple terms: Invisibility steals the pleasure of success and connection.
Key Takeaway
Seek fulfillment that includes presence.
Themes
loneliness
ambition
illusion
desire
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- romantic relationships
- personal achievement
- social status
Key Concepts
existentialism
identity
theatrical metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How does visibility affect your satisfaction?
- What relationships matter if you cannot be seen?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes invisibility is literal; metaphorical isolation may differ.
![“The thing [Henry James'] novel is about is always there. It is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently placed, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.” quote by H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19f/h-g-wells-2-1299_books_the-thing-henry-james-novel-is-about-is_138893.jpg)
