--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If America gave anybody anything it is…" description: "\"If America gave anybody anything it is ambition. Bad things would come out of it because some guys are in a hurry, but that doesn't mean they're evil o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/jack-kirby-4317_ambition_if-america-gave-anybody-anything-it-is-a_1036455.jpg" --- # If America gave anybody anything it is ambition. Bad… ![“If America gave anybody anything it is ambition. Bad things would come out of it because some guys are in a hurry, but that doesn't mean they're evil or anything, it just means they fall into bad grace somehow.” quote by Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/jack-kirby-4317_ambition_if-america-gave-anybody-anything-it-is-a_1036455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/jack-kirby-4317_ambition_if-america-gave-anybody-anything-it-is-a_1036455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/jack-kirby-4317_ambition_if-america-gave-anybody-anything-it-is-a_1036455.jpg) > “If America gave anybody anything it is ambition. Bad things would come out of it because some guys are in a hurry, but that doesn't mean they're evil or anything, it just means they fall into bad grace somehow.” [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition drives progress but can lead to reckless actions if unchecked **In simple terms:** Ambition pushes us forward, but can cause harm if misdirected Key Takeaway Channel ambition wisely to avoid negative outcomes Themes ambition ethics human nature Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - entrepreneurship - personal growth - risk management Key Concepts Motivation consequences psychology Questions to Reflect On - What checks can balance ambition? - When does ambition become harmful? A Different Perspective Ambition alone doesn't guarantee good outcomes ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-bad-1454764/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-gave-926745/) [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys Hurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-hurry-2398220/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mean Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-evil-844409/) ## Related quotes > [Things that I consider bad qualities, I always try and figure out where they are coming from. I don't consider ambition to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/things-that-i-consider-bad-qualities-i-always-try-and-figure-out/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Too much ambition is a bad thing to have in a bunker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jones/too-much-ambition-is-a-bad-thing-to-have-in-a-bunker/) [Bobby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jones/) > [“Seems to me people are mean or evil because they're scared, mostly, or in pain, or afraid they're going to lose something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-samuel/seems-to-me-people-are-mean-or-evil-because-they-re-scared-mostly-or/) [Barbara Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-samuel/) > [“~ darkness doesn't have to mean evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mari-adkins/darkness-doesn-t-have-to-mean-evil/) [Mari Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mari-adkins/) > [Mama and I would go to a funeral and she'd stand up to read the dead person's eulogy. She made the ignorant and ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/mama-and-i-would-go-to-a-funeral-and-she-d-stand-up-to-read-the-dead/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [“I would like to believe he's sick rather than just mean and evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rangel/i-would-like-to-believe-he-s-sick-rather-than-just-mean-and-evil/) [Charles Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rangel/) > [Being a hooker does not mean being evil. The same with a pick-pocket, or even a thief. You do what you do out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-fuller/being-a-hooker-does-not-mean-being-evil-the-same-with-a-pick-pocket/) [Samuel Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-fuller/) > [“What you’re doing is wrong,” he said. “I mean evil. To give up happiness like this is like throwing jewels into the ocean. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/what-you-re-doing-is-wrong-he-said-i-mean-evil-to-give-up-happiness/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [It used to be said that you had to know what was happening in America because it gave us a glimpse of our future.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/it-used-to-be-said-that-you-had-to-know-what-was-happening-in-america/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [I love America. America gave me wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-dengler/i-love-america-america-gave-me-wings/) [Dieter Dengler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-dengler/) > [The prescience of the founding fathers continues to astonish me. They were freedom fighters. They made America. They gave us this magical country. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/the-prescience-of-the-founding-fathers-continues-to-astonish-me-they/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [Black people, we built America, and we gave it all of its pop culture and all of its great musical genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/black-people-we-built-america-and-we-gave-it-all-of-its-pop-culture/) [Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/) > [ And when they \[American soldiers\] came, they found fit comrades for their courage and their devotion. ... Joining hands with these, the men of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/and-when-they-american-soldiers-came-they-found-fit-comrades-for/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [America gave me the opportunity to open successful restaurants, start a TV show, and write books. I can even fill an auditorium when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/america-gave-me-the-opportunity-to-open-successful-restaurants-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As an American I am not so shocked that Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize without any accomplishments to his name, America gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/as-an-american-i-am-not-so-shocked-that-obama-was-given-the-nobel/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) ## More by Jack Kirby > [All human beings have the capability of doing what they want, what they're attracted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/all-human-beings-have-the-capability-of-doing-what-they-want-what/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I always resent anybody interfering with anybody else trying to do his job. Everybody has his own job to do. If he's good, he'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-always-resent-anybody-interfering-with-anybody-else-trying-to-do/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I get a lot of comics, and I can look at a comic and tell immediately whether I'll enjoy it or not. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-get-a-lot-of-comics-and-i-can-look-at-a-comic-and-tell-immediately/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [If you're a thorough professional, and they won't let you do a professional job, nobody's going to benefit from it. The people who produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/if-you-re-a-thorough-professional-and-they-won-t-let-you-do-a/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [Nobody ever asked me to do anything. Nobody knew what to do. When comics were brand new, nobody knew what kind of comics to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/nobody-ever-asked-me-to-do-anything-nobody-knew-what-to-do-when/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I've done things that I wouldn't ordinarily seem capable of doing. And I've proven myself in situations where there's life and death at stake.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-ve-done-things-that-i-wouldn-t-ordinarily-seem-capable-of-doing-and/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [Some of my friends became gangsters. You became a gangster depending upon how fast you wanted a suit. Gangsters weren't the stereotypes you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/some-of-my-friends-became-gangsters-you-became-a-gangster-depending/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [A man is entitled to draw things in his own style. I didn't hurt Superman. I made him powerful. I admire Superman, but I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/a-man-is-entitled-to-draw-things-in-his-own-style-i-didn-t-hurt/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I'm a guy who had to perform some way. I had to perform in some way. If not as an actor, I'd perform as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-m-a-guy-who-had-to-perform-some-way-i-had-to-perform-in-some-way-if/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I taught myself how to draw, and I soon found out it was what I really wanted to do. I didn't think I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-taught-myself-how-to-draw-and-i-soon-found-out-it-was-what-i-really/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I've never done anything half-heartedly; it's a disservice to me and the audience if I do it half-heartedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-ve-never-done-anything-half-heartedly-it-s-a-disservice-to-me-and/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [My purpose was what my father's purpose was - to make a living and to have a family. I was going to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/my-purpose-was-what-my-father-s-purpose-was-to-make-a-living-and-to/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I hated to fight all the time just to enjoy my day. Fighting wasn't the kind of thing that I enjoyed, but I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-hated-to-fight-all-the-time-just-to-enjoy-my-day-fighting-wasn-t/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [Kid ... Comics will break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/kid-comics-will-break-your-heart/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [All life on Earth is subject to the rumbles and rockings of the parent stucture which has no control over the disastrous effects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/all-life-on-earth-is-subject-to-the-rumbles-and-rockings-of-the/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) [Explore all 112 Jack Kirby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) ## 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": "If America gave anybody anything it is ambition. 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