--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think ambition is a desire for…" description: "\"I think ambition is a desire for recognition. People want to be special. I think ambition can take in a whole package of things, power or sexual excite..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-wolcott-8178_ambition_i-think-ambition-is-a-desire-for-recogni_1441614.jpg" --- # I think ambition is a desire for recognition. People want… ![“I think ambition is a desire for recognition. People want to be special. I think ambition can take in a whole package of things, power or sexual excitement.” quote by James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-wolcott-8178_ambition_i-think-ambition-is-a-desire-for-recogni_1441614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-wolcott-8178_ambition_i-think-ambition-is-a-desire-for-recogni_1441614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-wolcott-8178_ambition_i-think-ambition-is-a-desire-for-recogni_1441614.jpg) > “I think ambition is a desire for recognition. People want to be special. I think ambition can take in a whole package of things, power or sexual excitement.” [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition is driven by a need for recognition and a desire to feel special, often linked with power or sexual excitement. **In simple terms:** Ambition seeks recognition and power. Key Takeaway Recognize healthy ambition. Themes recognition power desire human nature Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - career advancement - political leadership - personal relationships - creative projects Key Concepts psychology motivation identity Questions to Reflect On - How does recognition shape your goals? - When does ambition become harmful? A Different Perspective Ambition can become destructive if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Excitement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excitement/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [People want to be special. I think ambition can take in a whole package of things, power or sexual excitement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/people-want-to-be-special-i-think-ambition-can-take-in-a-whole/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [“The decision as to whether to risk one’s actual life or to surrender the ideal self-conception is a decision about who one is." from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brandom/the-decision-as-to-whether-to-risk-one-s-actual-life-or-to-surrender/) Robert Brandom > [Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/great-ambition-the-desire-of-real-superiority-of-leading-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [If you have a burning ambition and desire, absolutely anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahangir-khan/if-you-have-a-burning-ambition-and-desire-absolutely-anything-can-be/) [Jahangir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahangir-khan/) > [There is scarce any passion so heartily decried by moralists and satirists, as AMBITION; and yet, methinks, ambition is not a vice but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/there-is-scarce-any-passion-so-heartily-decried-by-moralists-and/) [Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/) > [“Nothing but ambition, nothing but the desire to get on, that's all there is in his soul," she thought; "as for these lofty ideals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/nothing-but-ambition-nothing-but-the-desire-to-get-on-that-s-all/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Ambition is the desire to go forward and improve one's condition. It is a burning flame that lights up the life of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/ambition-is-the-desire-to-go-forward-and-improve-one-s-condition-it/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [If ambition is the desire to be the best at what you do, then I'm guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-checketts/if-ambition-is-the-desire-to-be-the-best-at-what-you-do-then-i-m/) [Dave Checketts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-checketts/) > [“Sometimes in church circles, we talk more about contentment (which is a good thing) but it can minimize the importance of ambition—that somehow it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mcculley/sometimes-in-church-circles-we-talk-more-about-contentment-which-is-a/) Carolyn McCulley > [It is my ambition and desire to so administer the affairs of the government while I remain President that if at the end I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-my-ambition-and-desire-to-so-administer-the-affairs-of-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What is ambition but desire of greatness? And what is greatness but extent of power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-higgons/what-is-ambition-but-desire-of-greatness-and-what-is-greatness-but/) Thomas Higgons > [I never engaged in public affairs for my own interest, pleasure, envy, jealousy, avarice or ambition, or even the desire of fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-never-engaged-in-public-affairs-for-my-own-interest-pleasure-envy/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“I believe at least in one of the chief tenets of the Christian faith--contentment with a lowly place. I am a doctor and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-believe-at-least-in-one-of-the-chief-tenets-of-the-christian-faith/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Ambition and desire are the roots of success...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-may/ambition-and-desire-are-the-roots-of-success/) [Milana May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-may/) > [I've experienced love and ambition and desire in my life, but never in the same way as in a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-denis/i-ve-experienced-love-and-ambition-and-desire-in-my-life-but-never-in/) [Claire Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-denis/) ## More by James Wolcott > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/there-was-a-time-when-idealistic-folksingers-such-as-myself-believed/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [After a decade this glum, we deserved a shot of 'Glee,' a show that restored our faith in the power of song, the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/after-a-decade-this-glum-we-deserved-a-shot-of-glee-a-show-that/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [It's the contemporary woman that movies don't know what to do with, other than bathe her in a bridal glow in romantic comedies where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/it-s-the-contemporary-woman-that-movies-don-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I understand the people-watching, but I've never done it where people have to race to three different shows, from here to there. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/i-understand-the-people-watching-but-i-ve-never-done-it-where-people/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [What had brought me to New York in the autumn of 1972 was a letter of recommendation written by Norman Mailer, the author of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/what-had-brought-me-to-new-york-in-the-autumn-of-1972-was-a-letter-of/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Historically, Hollywood comedy has arrived in skinny envelopes. From fence post Buster Keaton to herky-jerky Jerry Lewis to wiry nerve-bundle Woody Allen to hung-loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/historically-hollywood-comedy-has-arrived-in-skinny-envelopes-from/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian would have left little more than lipstick stains in their passing had it not been for the sex videos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/paris-hilton-and-kim-kardashian-would-have-left-little-more-than/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [On August 28, 2010, Fox News messiah Glenn Beck hosted a 'Restoring Honor' revival meeting featuring sexy guest star Sarah Palin, much as Bob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/on-august-28-2010-fox-news-messiah-glenn-beck-hosted-a-restoring/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I've always stayed on the periphery of things. When I used to go to the punk clubs and things like that, I was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/i-ve-always-stayed-on-the-periphery-of-things-when-i-used-to-go-to/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [My high-school papers, my college-application essays, read like Norman Mailer packed in a crunchy-peanut-butter sandwich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/my-high-school-papers-my-college-application-essays-read-like-norman/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Telling writers to shut up is a sure way to keep them talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/telling-writers-to-shut-up-is-a-sure-way-to-keep-them-talking/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [As we divest ourselves of once familiar physical objects - digitize and dematerialize - we approach a 'Star Trek' future in which everything can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/as-we-divest-ourselves-of-once-familiar-physical-objects-digitize-and/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [The advent of DVD/Blu-ray reissues of classic Hollywood and foreign films has been a boon to film buffs, who can now study their favorites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/the-advent-of-dvd-blu-ray-reissues-of-classic-hollywood-and-foreign/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Mitt Romney - he had a Rock Hudson thing going, shoeblack hair and a well-hung resume, but even for a shameless, position-shifting phony he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/mitt-romney-he-had-a-rock-hudson-thing-going-shoeblack-hair-and-a/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) [Explore all 83 James Wolcott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) ## 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": "I think ambition is a desire for recognition. 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