Ambition Quote by John Steinbeck
“Look at them. There are your true philosophers. I think that Mack and the boys know everything that has ever happened in the world and possibly everything that will happen. I think they survive in this particular world better than other people. In a time when people tear themselves to pieces with ambition and nervousness and covetousness, they are relaxed. All of our so-called successful men are sick men, with bad stomachs, and bad souls, but Mack and the boys are healthy and curiously clean. They can do what they want. They can satisfy their appetites without calling them something else.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939
The passage praises a group of simple, content men who embody authentic philosophy through calmness and honesty, contrasting them with ambitious, anxious “successful” people.
In simple terms: Simple, honest people are true philosophers, unlike stressed successful men.
Key Takeaway
Embrace simplicity and honesty.
Themes
philosophy
authenticity
contentment
critique of success
health
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
social commentary
literary
When to use this quote
- Everyday life
- workplace
- personal growth
- mental health
- relationships
Key Concepts
Stoicism
existentialism
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true success mean to you?
- How can you balance ambition with calmness?
A Different Perspective
The view idealizes simplicity and may overlook the value of ambition and effort.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
