--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law…" description: "\"Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite\" — Josh Billings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/josh-billings-777_ambition_ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law_1554604.png" --- # Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite ![“Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/josh-billings-777_ambition_ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law_1554604.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/josh-billings-777_ambition_ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law_1554604.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/josh-billings-777_ambition_ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law_1554604.png) > “Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite” [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition is an insatiable hunger that follows no rules, driving relentless desire. **In simple terms:** Ambition is uncontrolled desire. Key Takeaway Channel ambition wisely. Themes ambition desire self-control Mood motivational cautionary Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal goals - entrepreneurship Key Concepts psychology of drive motivation theory Questions to Reflect On - What drives your ambition? - How can you balance ambition with wellbeing? A Different Perspective Unchecked ambition can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-like-645732/) [Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Hunger Obeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger-obeys-5818851/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-appetite-5818852/) [Like Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-hunger-443720/) ## Related quotes > [Like magic, she felt him getting nearer, felt it like a pull in the pit of her stomach. It felt like hunger but deeper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/like-magic-she-felt-him-getting-nearer-felt-it-like-a-pull-in-the-pit/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ambition-is-like-love-impatient-both-of-delays-and-rivals/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I can smell your ambition like blood in the water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in-the-water/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Some women make it look so easy, the way they cast ambition off like an expensive coat that no longer fits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-offill/some-women-make-it-look-so-easy-the-way-they-cast-ambition-off-like/) [Jenny Offill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-offill/) > [Ability Without Ambition Is Like A Car Without A Motor...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/ability-without-ambition-is-like-a-car-without-a-motor/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever urgeth on his own successes, hating nothing but what may stop them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/ambition-like-love-can-abide-no-lingering-and-ever-urgeth-on-his-own/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [My ambition is to do what I like and to do good things that I might not have done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/my-ambition-is-to-do-what-i-like-and-to-do-good-things-that-i-might/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [A dream without ambition is like a car without gas... you're not going anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hampton/a-dream-without-ambition-is-like-a-car-without-gas-you-re-not-going/) [Sean Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hampton/) > [Ambition like a liquid ruby stains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/ambition-like-a-liquid-ruby-stains/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I like ambition. I like someone who gets up in the morning and has a purpose. A real purpose. I have one. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-like-ambition-i-like-someone-who-gets-up-in-the-morning-and-has-a/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, ne'er looks back; And is a swelling, and the last affection A high mind can put off; being both a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-ne-er-looks-back-and-is-a-swelling-and-the/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Ambition is like a frog sitting on a Venus Flytrap. The flytrap can bite and bite, but it won't bother the frog because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ambition-is-like-a-frog-sitting-on-a-venus-flytrap-the-flytrap-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-never-looks-back/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“I don't understand what makes them come out like that!" "Hunger," said Jem. "Were you thinking about blood?" "No" "Were you thinking about eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-understand-what-makes-them-come-out-like-that-hunger-said-jem/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“The Temperature is Rising The heartbeat quickens my breath is controlled,my senses are illuminated like a mother to her young. This feeling I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-ghostwriter/the-temperature-is-rising-the-heartbeat-quickens-my-breath-is/) [M.I. Ghostwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-ghostwriter/) ## More by Josh Billings > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Perseverance is king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/perseverance-is-king/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Unless we put heart and soul into our labor we but brutify our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/unless-we-put-heart-and-soul-into-our-labor-we-but-brutify-our-actions/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If a man is right, he can't be too radical; if he is wrong, he can't be too conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-a-man-is-right-he-can-t-be-too-radical-if-he-is-wrong-he-can-t-be/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth - hear both sides and believe neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/as-a-general-rule-if-you-want-to-get-at-the-truth-hear-both-sides-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/economy-is-a-savings-bank-into-which-men-drop-pennies-and-get-dollars/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/poverty-is-one-of-them-kind-of-misfortunes-that-we-all-of-us-dread/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## 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": "Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Billings" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law-but-its-appetite/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law-but-its-appetite/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/josh-billings-777_ambition_ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law_1554604.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/josh-billings-777_ambition_ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law_1554604.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/josh-billings-777_ambition_ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law_1554604.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite” — Josh Billings", "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": "Josh Billings", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ambition is like hunger; it obeys...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law-but-its-appetite/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law-but-its-appetite/#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 } } ] } ```