--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Worldly ambition is founded on pride or…" description: "\"Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in humility; for it evidently implies that we ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/joseph-hall-7416_ambition_worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or_2804802.png" --- # Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but… ![“Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in humility; for it evidently implies that we have a low opinion of our present attainments, and think it necessary to be advanced.” quote by Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/joseph-hall-7416_ambition_worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or_2804802.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/joseph-hall-7416_ambition_worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or_2804802.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/joseph-hall-7416_ambition_worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or_2804802.png) > “Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in humility; for it evidently implies that we have a low opinion of our present attainments, and think it necessary to be advanced.” [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True ambition stems from humility, recognizing current limits and seeking advancement. **In simple terms:** Humility fuels noble ambition. Key Takeaway Pursue goals with modesty. Themes humility ambition self‑improvement Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - education - skill building Key Concepts ethical drive personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How does humility shape your goals? - When does humility hinder assertiveness? A Different Perspective May be misread as lack of confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-actually-3475625/) [Attainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attainment/) [Emulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulation/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Founded Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founded-humility-3475626/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Laudable Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laudable-ambition-1494674/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly/) [Worldly Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly-ambition-3475624/) ## Related quotes > [“Worldly ambition inhibits true learning. Ask me. I know. A young man in a hurry is nearly uneducable: He knows what he wants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-j-bacevich/worldly-ambition-inhibits-true-learning-ask-me-i-know-a-young-man-in/) [Andrew J. Bacevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-j-bacevich/) > [“From his earliest days William Ayrton’s ambition had been to become a landed gentleman and to found a family. To modern ears this ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/from-his-earliest-days-william-ayrton-s-ambition-had-been-to-become-a/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“I wish to show that elegance is inferior to virtue, that the first object of laudable ambition is to obtain a character as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/i-wish-to-show-that-elegance-is-inferior-to-virtue-that-the-first/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Never, I say, had a country so many openings to happiness as this… Her cause was good. Her principles just and liberal. Her temper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/never-i-say-had-a-country-so-many-openings-to-happiness-as-this-her/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Praise begets emulation,--a goodly seed to sow among youthful students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/praise-begets-emulation-a-goodly-seed-to-sow-among-youthful-students/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [With the exception of the instinct of self-preservation, the propensity for emulation is probably the strongest and most alert and persistent of the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/with-the-exception-of-the-instinct-of-self-preservation-the/) [Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/) > [An envious fever of pale and bloodless emulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/an-envious-fever-of-pale-and-bloodless-emulation/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Emulation admires and strives to imitate great actions; envy is only moved to malice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/emulation-admires-and-strives-to-imitate-great-actions-envy-is-only/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Unsuccessful emulation is too apt to sink into envy, which of all sins has not even the excuse to offer of temporary gratification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-thompson-dobell/unsuccessful-emulation-is-too-apt-to-sink-into-envy-which-of-all-sins/) [Sydney Thompson Dobell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-thompson-dobell/) > [Emulation, even in brutes, is sensitively "nervous." See the tremor of the thoroughbred racer before he starts. The dray-horse does not tremble, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/emulation-even-in-brutes-is-sensitively-nervous-see-the-tremor-of-the/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Emulation is grief arising from seeing one's self, exceeded or excelled by his concurrent, together with hope to equal or exceed him in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/emulation-is-grief-arising-from-seeing-one-s-self-exceeded-or/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [No pedagogy which is truly liberating can remain distant from the oppressed by treating them as unfortunates and by presenting for their emulation models…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/no-pedagogy-which-is-truly-liberating-can-remain-distant-from-the/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [In particular, it is absurd to hope to banish envy of other people's possessions or fortunes, if only because the spirit of envy can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-particular-it-is-absurd-to-hope-to-banish-envy-of-other-people-s/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More by Joseph Hall > [A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-reputation-once-broken-may-possibly-be-repaired-but-the-world-will/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/and-if-i-were-so-low-that-i-accounted-myself-the-worst-of-all-yet/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The life of doctrine is in application.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-life-of-doctrine-is-in-application/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Words are as they are taken, and things are as they are used. There are even cursed blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/words-are-as-they-are-taken-and-things-are-as-they-are-used-there-are/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/we-must-first-pray-that-god-would-make-us-wise-before-we-can-wish-he/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I account this body nothing but a close prison to my soul; and the earth a larger prison to my body. I may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-account-this-body-nothing-but-a-close-prison-to-my-soul-and-the/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Satan would seem to be mannerly and reasonable; making as if he would be content with one-half of the heart, whereas God challengeth all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/satan-would-seem-to-be-mannerly-and-reasonable-making-as-if-he-would/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [It is not the bee's touching on the flowers that gathers the honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/it-is-not-the-bee-s-touching-on-the-flowers-that-gathers-the-honey/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-have-seldom-seen-much-ostentation-and-much-learning-met-together/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Mark in what order: first, our calling; then, our election; not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/mark-in-what-order-first-our-calling-then-our-election-not-beginning/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Fools measure actions, after they are done, by the event; wise men beforehand, by the rules of reason and right. The former look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/fools-measure-actions-after-they-are-done-by-the-event-wise-men/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/earthly-greatness-is-a-nice-thing-and-requires-so-much-chariness-in/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-good-man-is-kinder-to-his-enemy-than-bad-men-are-to-their-friends/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The ear and the eye are the mind's receivers; but the tongue is only busy in expending the treasures received. It, therefore, the revenues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-ear-and-the-eye-are-the-mind-s-receivers-but-the-tongue-is-only/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [What fools are we, to be besotted with the love of our own trouble, and to hate our liberty and rest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/what-fools-are-we-to-be-besotted-with-the-love-of-our-own-trouble-and/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) [Explore all 91 Joseph Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) ## 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": "Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in humility; for it evidently implies that we have a low opinion of our present attainments, and think it necessary to be advanced.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Hall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or-envy-but-emulation-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or-envy-but-emulation-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/joseph-hall-7416_ambition_worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or_2804802.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/joseph-hall-7416_ambition_worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or_2804802.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/joseph-hall-7416_ambition_worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or_2804802.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in…” — Joseph Hall", "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 Hall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Worldly ambition is founded on pride...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or-envy-but-emulation-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/worldly-ambition-is-founded-on-pride-or-envy-but-emulation-or/#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 } } ] } ```