Ambition Quote by Ira Glass
“What nobody tells people who are beginners… is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not… your taste is why your work disappoints you… We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this… It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: This American Life, 2015
Creative work starts with high personal standards, but early output often falls short; volume and persistence bridge the gap between taste and skill.
In simple terms: Good taste leads to early disappointment; practice improves.
Key Takeaway
Keep creating and trust that quantity will close the quality gap.
Themes
creativity
skill development
perseverance
self‑expectations
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
inspirational
practical
When to use this quote
- artistic projects
- writing
- design
- music
- film production
Key Concepts
deliberate practice
growth mindset
taste vs. ability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you turn feedback into actionable growth?
- What habits help sustain long‑term creative practice?
A Different Perspective
Volume alone may not guarantee improvement without reflection.
