--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is difficult to be ambitious without…" description: "\"“It is difficult to be ambitious without also being envious.”\" — Joseph Epstein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/joseph-epstein-10324_ambition_it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without_2765509.png" --- # It is difficult to be ambitious without also being envious. ![“It is difficult to be ambitious without also being envious.” quote by Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/joseph-epstein-10324_ambition_it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without_2765509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/joseph-epstein-10324_ambition_it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without_2765509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/joseph-epstein-10324_ambition_it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without_2765509.png) > ““It is difficult to be ambitious without also being envious.”” [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition often coexists with envy, as striving for success can trigger comparison and resentment. **In simple terms:** Ambition can bring envy. Key Takeaway Balance drive with gratitude. Themes ambition envy self‑awareness Mood thoughtful cautious Type motivational analytical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - goal setting Key Concepts psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - What triggers envy when you pursue goals? - How can you channel envy into constructive energy? A Different Perspective Envy may undermine motivation and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) ## Related quotes > [Those who are believed to be most abject and humble are usually most ambitious and envious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/those-who-are-believed-to-be-most-abject-and-humble-are-usually-most/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“those, who are believed to be most self—abased and humble, are generally in reality the most ambitious and envious”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spinoza/those-who-are-believed-to-be-most-self-abased-and-humble-are/) [Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spinoza/) > [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [Overwhelming and astounding inequality,especially when it has an element of the unattainable, arouses far less envy than minimal inequality, which inevitably causes the envious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schoeck/overwhelming-and-astounding-inequality-especially-when-it-has-an/) [Helmut Schoeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schoeck/) > [ I'm not envious of Leo \[Messi\]or Ney \[Neymar\]. Why would I be? If there is envy in the dressing room, you know it's only… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-suarez/i-m-not-envious-of-leo-messi-or-ney-neymar-why-would-i-be-if-there-is/) [Luis Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-suarez/) > [Of the seven deadly sins, only envy is no fun at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/of-the-seven-deadly-sins-only-envy-is-no-fun-at-all/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Man is by nature competitive, combative, ambitious, jealous, envious, and vengeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-keith/man-is-by-nature-competitive-combative-ambitious-jealous-envious-and/) [Arthur Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-keith/) > [Envy, my children, follows pride; whoever is envious is proud. See, envy comes to us from Hell; the devils having sinned through pride, sinned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vianney/envy-my-children-follows-pride-whoever-is-envious-is-proud-see-envy/) [John Vianney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vianney/) > [“Once she was standing by her locker and her puka shells broke and scattered and she made a joke about it but he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/once-she-was-standing-by-her-locker-and-her-puka-shells-broke-and/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [Anger is a violent act, envy a constant habit - no one can be always angry, but he may be always envious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/anger-is-a-violent-act-envy-a-constant-habit-no-one-can-be-always/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [“Then had her envious heart rest, at least such rest as a heart full of envy and malice ever can have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-wright-mabie/then-had-her-envious-heart-rest-at-least-such-rest-as-a-heart-full-of/) [Hamilton Wright Mabie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-wright-mabie/) > [“Quit being envious of someone else’s achievements because envy is totally a time stealer, a time waster, a focus stealer and a life purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/quit-being-envious-of-someone-else-s-achievements-because-envy-is/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [When you make your mark in the world, watch out for the envious with erasers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/when-you-make-your-mark-in-the-world-watch-out-for-the-envious-with/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The praise of the envious is far less creditable than their censure; they praise only that which they can surpass, but that which surpasses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-praise-of-the-envious-is-far-less-creditable-than-their-censure/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Don't be envious of people with the perfect life, try to sacrifice your time as individuals towards achieving the best life you want for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/don-t-be-envious-of-people-with-the-perfect-life-try-to-sacrifice/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) ## More by Joseph Epstein > [I am basically a complainer and all the grounds for complaint have been swept out from under me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-basically-a-complainer-and-all-the-grounds-for-complaint-have/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I think the story is my form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-think-the-story-is-my-form/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I was recently asked what it takes to become a writer. Three things, I answered: first, one must cultivate incompetence at almost every other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-was-recently-asked-what-it-takes-to-become-a-writer-three-things-i/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [“To be in the middle of composing a book is almost always to feel oneself in a state of confusion, doubt and mental imprisonment…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/to-be-in-the-middle-of-composing-a-book-is-almost-always-to-feel/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I am the heterosexual Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-the-heterosexual-truman-capote/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Not to like ice cream is to show oneself uninterested in food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/not-to-like-ice-cream-is-to-show-oneself-uninterested-in-food/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [We who are quotatious are never truly alone, but always hear the cheerful flow of remarks made by dead writers so much more intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/we-who-are-quotatious-are-never-truly-alone-but-always-hear-the/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Culture means, I think, that you have widened your experience enough through reading and through being a little bit thoughtful about these things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/culture-means-i-think-that-you-have-widened-your-experience-enough/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Food has it over sex for variety. Hedonistically, gustatory possibilities are much broader than copulatory ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/food-has-it-over-sex-for-variety-hedonistically-gustatory/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [“Getting rid of most of my personal library comported nicely with my longheld fantasy of traveling light, existing with minimal encumbrances, living simply. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/getting-rid-of-most-of-my-personal-library-comported-nicely-with-my/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Envy is never general, but always very particular - at least envy of the kind one feels strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/envy-is-never-general-but-always-very-particular-at-least-envy-of-the/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Many moons ago dictionaries of quotations may have been less needed than they are today. In those good/bad old days, people walked around with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/many-moons-ago-dictionaries-of-quotations-may-have-been-less-needed/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Of the seven deadly sins, only envy is no fun at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/of-the-seven-deadly-sins-only-envy-is-no-fun-at-all/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I know how many days in which I have just answered e-mail, had three phone calls and a two hour lunch. Poof, gone. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-know-how-many-days-in-which-i-have-just-answered-e-mail-had-three/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I am married to someone I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-married-to-someone-i-love/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) [Explore all 66 Joseph Epstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) ## 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": "“It is difficult to be ambitious without also being envious.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Epstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without-also-being-envious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without-also-being-envious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/joseph-epstein-10324_ambition_it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without_2765509.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/joseph-epstein-10324_ambition_it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without_2765509.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/joseph-epstein-10324_ambition_it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without_2765509.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is difficult to be ambitious without also being envious.” — Joseph Epstein", "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": "Joseph Epstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is difficult to be ambitious...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without-also-being-envious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/it-is-difficult-to-be-ambitious-without-also-being-envious/#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 } } ] } ```