--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never the type who had a particular…" description: "\"I was never the type who had a particular ambition. I had friends in college who would say, 'I want to be a vice president by the time I'm 35 years old..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-c-bogle-2199_ambition_i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particula_2280787.jpg" --- # I was never the type who had a particular ambition. I had… ![“I was never the type who had a particular ambition. I had friends in college who would say, 'I want to be a vice president by the time I'm 35 years old.' A lot of people had these career plans. I didn't have any. I thought if I did my best, good things would happen.” quote by John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-c-bogle-2199_ambition_i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particula_2280787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-c-bogle-2199_ambition_i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particula_2280787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-c-bogle-2199_ambition_i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particula_2280787.jpg) > “I was never the type who had a particular ambition. I had friends in college who would say, 'I want to be a vice president by the time I'm 35 years old.' A lot of people had these career plans. I didn't have any. I thought if I did my best, good things would happen.” [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success can arise from steady effort and trust rather than rigid ambition. **In simple terms:** Hard work can lead to success without a fixed goal. Key Takeaway Focus on doing your best daily. Themes career effort trust Mood reflective optimistic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - job performance - entrepreneurship - personal development - financial planning Key Concepts long‑term investing personal philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on ambition or consistent effort? - How does trusting the process affect outcomes? A Different Perspective Lack of clear goals may limit strategic direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Birthdays are a time when one stock takes, which means, I suppose, a good spineless mope: I scan my horizon and can discern no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/birthdays-are-a-time-when-one-stock-takes-which-means-i-suppose-a/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [I did engineering, and when people asked me my career plans, I used to say I would do an MBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-kaushal/i-did-engineering-and-when-people-asked-me-my-career-plans-i-used-to/) [Vicky Kaushal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-kaushal/) > [My career plans were much more exciting when I was five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-career-plans-were-much-more-exciting-when-i-was-five/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The NBA wasn't a big deal at that time, so it wasn't really in my career plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-cousy/the-nba-wasn-t-a-big-deal-at-that-time-so-it-wasn-t-really-in-my/) [Bob Cousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-cousy/) > [Some people have career plans, long-range career plans. I don't know anything about that. I'm no good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/some-people-have-career-plans-long-range-career-plans-i-don-t-know/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [I've always had this passion to be creative, and wanted to sing or be in bands and make music, but I didn't have ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-ve-always-had-this-passion-to-be-creative-and-wanted-to-sing-or-be/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [The first record I made when I was 17. Labels merged and plans didn't work out, but plans never work out as planned. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-monroe/the-first-record-i-made-when-i-was-17-labels-merged-and-plans-didn-t/) [Ashley Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-monroe/) > [I didn't know if pro ball was in the plans for me. I didn't know it was going to happen right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-alvarez/i-didn-t-know-if-pro-ball-was-in-the-plans-for-me-i-didn-t-know-it/) [Eddy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-alvarez/) > [The primary reason for failure is that people do not develop new plans to replace those plans that didn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-primary-reason-for-failure-is-that-people-do-not-develop-new/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“But his plans didn't matter, she supposed, since he would soon be at her mercy. Not that she had any." - Bianka”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/but-his-plans-didn-t-matter-she-supposed-since-he-would-soon-be-at/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [ Ladies, \[motherhood\] is a full-time job. Do not kid yourself that you can be a dental receptionist and a mother; that you can be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/ladies-motherhood-is-a-full-time-job-do-not-kid-yourself-that-you-can/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [“Humphrey had even visited the CASPER facility on multiple occasions under the cover of darkness during vacations at the Greenbrier. In 1970, after his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-m-graff/humphrey-had-even-visited-the-casper-facility-on-multiple-occasions/) [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) > [ “In all, the future secretary of defense and wartime vice president\[, Dick Cheney,\] would receive five deferments during the Vietnam War, protecting him from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-savage/in-all-the-future-secretary-of-defense-and-wartime-vice-president/) Charlie Savage > [“Military life and culture seem to be foreign territory for many of the people who write for national magazines and newspapers today. Every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/military-life-and-culture-seem-to-be-foreign-territory-for-many-of/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) ## More by John C. Bogle > [The basic idea of retirement income is, to me, to get a check, two checks every month, one from your fixed income and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-basic-idea-of-retirement-income-is-to-me-to-get-a-check-two/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [When you're young, you've got plenty of time to recover from your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/when-you-re-young-you-ve-got-plenty-of-time-to-recover-from-your/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I almost hate to say how proud I am of my career and, most of all, helping folks get the returns they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-almost-hate-to-say-how-proud-i-am-of-my-career-and-most-of-all/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [The Vanguard Experiment was designed to prove that mutual funds could operate independently, and do so in a manner that would directly benefit their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-vanguard-experiment-was-designed-to-prove-that-mutual-funds-could/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Learning is to the Studious, and Riches to the Careful. If a man empties his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/an-investment-in-knowledge-always-pays-the-best-interest-learning-is/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I liked the so-called Volcker Rule. I would have separated investment banking and commercial, deposit banking, as we did under the Glass-Steagal Act. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-liked-the-so-called-volcker-rule-i-would-have-separated-investment/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [We make too much out of past performance, and it's very misleading to investors. It causes them to move money around. They buy a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/we-make-too-much-out-of-past-performance-and-it-s-very-misleading-to/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [It's very difficult for any particular segment of the stock market to sustain superior performance. The watch word for our financial markets is, "reversion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/it-s-very-difficult-for-any-particular-segment-of-the-stock-market-to/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I do think that impact investing is not that effective. Shares go from investor A to investor B, and the company doesn't even know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-do-think-that-impact-investing-is-not-that-effective-shares-go-from/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I was born in an earlier generation and, as a group, my classmates at Blair Academy and Princeton University were as ethical, straightforward, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-born-in-an-earlier-generation-and-as-a-group-my-classmates-at/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [My only regret about money is that I don't have more to give away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/my-only-regret-about-money-is-that-i-don-t-have-more-to-give-away/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [U.S. companies are innovative and entrepreneurial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/u-s-companies-are-innovative-and-entrepreneurial/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Successful investing is about owning businesses and reaping the huge rewards provided by the dividends and earnings growth of our nation's - and, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/successful-investing-is-about-owning-businesses-and-reaping-the-huge/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Without getting into brothels, there are ethical capitalists the problem is that there aren't enough of them. It is not "just a few bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/without-getting-into-brothels-there-are-ethical-capitalists-the/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [The average hedge fund manager is going to earn zero per cent in extra return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-average-hedge-fund-manager-is-going-to-earn-zero-per-cent-in/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) [Explore all 179 John C. Bogle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) ## 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 was never the type who had a particular ambition. I had friends in college who would say, 'I want to be a vice president by the time I'm 35 years old.' A lot of people had these career plans. I didn't have any. I thought if I did my best, good things would happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. Bogle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particular-ambition-i-had-friends-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particular-ambition-i-had-friends-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-c-bogle-2199_ambition_i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particula_2280787.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-c-bogle-2199_ambition_i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particula_2280787.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-c-bogle-2199_ambition_i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particula_2280787.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was never the type who had a particular ambition. I had friends in college who would say, 'I want to be a…” — John C. Bogle", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John C. Bogle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was never the type who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particular-ambition-i-had-friends-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-never-the-type-who-had-a-particular-ambition-i-had-friends-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```