--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambitious men spend their youth in…" description: "\"Ambitious men spend their youth in rendering themselves worthy of patronage; it is their great mistake. While the foolish creatures are laying in store..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/honor-de-balzac-197_ambition_ambitious-men-spend-their-youth-in-rende_1555485.png" --- # Ambitious men spend their youth in rendering themselves… ![“Ambitious men spend their youth in rendering themselves worthy of patronage; it is their great mistake. While the foolish creatures are laying in stores of knowledge and energy, so that they shall not sink under the weight of responsible posts that recede from them, schemers come and go who are…” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/honor-de-balzac-197_ambition_ambitious-men-spend-their-youth-in-rende_1555485.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/honor-de-balzac-197_ambition_ambitious-men-spend-their-youth-in-rende_1555485.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07c/honor-de-balzac-197_ambition_ambitious-men-spend-their-youth-in-rende_1555485.png) > “Ambitious men spend their youth in rendering themselves worthy of patronage; it is their great mistake. While the foolish creatures are laying in stores of knowledge and energy, so that they shall not sink under the weight of responsible posts that recede from them, schemers come and go who are wealthy in words and destitute of ideas, astonish the ignorant, and creep into the confidence of those who have a little knowledge.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youth spent chasing status and patronage is a mistake; true value lies in building knowledge and ideas rather than empty words. **In simple terms:** Chasing status wastes youth; focus on ideas. Key Takeaway Prioritize learning over seeking approval. Themes ambition youth knowledge status mistake Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - academic study - personal growth - entrepreneurship Key Concepts patronage intellectual development social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance ambition with humility? - What practices protect against empty rhetoric? A Different Perspective Ideas without action are hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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/) [Comes and goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-and-goes/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Creeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeps/) [Destitute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destitute/) [Destitute Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destitute-ideas-5823645/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish/) [Foolish Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish-creatures-3932126/) [Great mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-mistakes/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Little knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-knowledge/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Patronage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patronage/) [Posts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posts/) [Rendering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rendering/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Schemers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemers-862895/) [Schemers Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemers-come-5823644/) [Stores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stores/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Wealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather busy than dangerous; and if well watched in their proceedings, they will catch them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/when-ambitious-men-find-an-open-passage-they-are-rather-busy-than/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“And if an infinitely wise Being listens to the requests of finite and foolish creatures, of course He will sometimes grant and sometimes refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/and-if-an-infinitely-wise-being-listens-to-the-requests-of-finite-and/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“And they schemed but God also schemed and God is the Best of Schemers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-they-schemed-but-god-also-schemed-and-god-is-the-best-of-schemers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a certain type of sociopathy to many schemers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/there-s-a-certain-type-of-sociopathy-to-many-schemers/) [Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/) > [“The schemers in this world eventually plot nothing but their own downfall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaneda-chaplin/the-schemers-in-this-world-eventually-plot-nothing-but-their-own/) [Kaneda Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaneda-chaplin/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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 Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## 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": "Ambitious men spend their youth in rendering themselves worthy of patronage; it is their great mistake. 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