Ambitious Quote by Joseph Brodsky
“A man should know about himself two or three things: whether he is a coward; whether he is an honest man or given to lies; whether he is an ambitious man. One should define oneself first of all in those terms, and only then in terms of culture, race, creed.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "On Self‑Knowledge", 1978
A person must first assess personal moral traits—courage, honesty, ambition—before defining identity by external categories.
In simple terms: Know your core character before labels.
Key Takeaway
Reflect on inner values first.
Themes
self‑knowledge
identity
morality
personal growth
Mood
introspective
serious
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- relationships
- leadership
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
ethical self‑assessment
character analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What core traits define you?
- How do you prioritize them over cultural identity?
A Different Perspective
External labels can obscure deeper self‑understanding.
![“[To] know oneself is, above all, to know what one lacks. It is to measure oneself against Truth, and not the other way around. The first product of self-knowledge is humility . . .” quote by Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/78d/flannery-o-connor-639_firsts_to-know-oneself-is-above-all-to-know-wha_1930035.jpg)
