--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True ambition is trying to paint yourself…" description: "\"“True ambition is trying to paint yourself out of a corner”\" — Josh Stern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/josh-stern-2480_ambition_true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yoursel_1595749.jpg" --- # True ambition is trying to paint yourself out of a corner ![“True ambition is trying to paint yourself out of a corner” quote by Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/josh-stern-2480_ambition_true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yoursel_1595749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/josh-stern-2480_ambition_true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yoursel_1595749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/josh-stern-2480_ambition_true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yoursel_1595749.jpg) > ““True ambition is trying to paint yourself out of a corner”” [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) ## 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 about creatively escaping constraints by reshaping your identity. **In simple terms:** Creative self‑reinvention to escape limits. Key Takeaway Redefine yourself to overcome obstacles. Themes creativity self‑growth ambition Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career transition - personal branding - artistic projects - entrepreneurship Key Concepts identity problem solving strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can you reshape your role to break a dead‑end? - What risks arise when you change your identity? A Different Perspective May ignore external realities while self‑redefining. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [Wisdom alone is true ambition's aim, wisdom the source of virtue, and of fame, obtained with labour, for mankind employed, and then, when most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/wisdom-alone-is-true-ambition-s-aim-wisdom-the-source-of-virtue-and/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [You could analyze me and say that my father leaving and being absent was a motivator for early ambition, trying to prove myself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-could-analyze-me-and-say-that-my-father-leaving-and-being-absent/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-ambition-is-not-what-we-thought-it-was-true-ambition-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would like to play for a club who I feel have true ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-tevez/i-would-like-to-play-for-a-club-who-i-feel-have-true-ambition/) [Carlos Tevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-tevez/) > [Lying can never truely solve a problem that requires the truth it only thickens the fog blinding true ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayjee-grogan/lying-can-never-truely-solve-a-problem-that-requires-the-truth-it/) [Ayjee Grogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayjee-grogan/) > [The way that I like to fight is I like to paint myself into a corner and so the only way is for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/the-way-that-i-like-to-fight-is-i-like-to-paint-myself-into-a-corner/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [Sometimes I may paint myself into a corner, but you should see the exquisite details and colors. . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sutter/sometimes-i-may-paint-myself-into-a-corner-but-you-should-see-the/) [Rick Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sutter/) > [Paint yourself into a corner so that you don't have any other option but to continue forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-braunohler/paint-yourself-into-a-corner-so-that-you-don-t-have-any-other-option/) [Kurt Braunohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-braunohler/) > [In fiction, when you paint yourself into a corner, you can write a pair of suction cups onto the bottoms of your shoes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/in-fiction-when-you-paint-yourself-into-a-corner-you-can-write-a-pair/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes. Paint a corner of the room a certain color to see how the light affects it. Or buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes-paint-a-corner-of-the-room-a/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [I am making things that inspire me with a profound emotion and I am trying to paint them honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/i-am-making-things-that-inspire-me-with-a-profound-emotion-and-i-am/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [It's basically the story of my life. Trying to paint the prettiest picture I can with the colors I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-plant/it-s-basically-the-story-of-my-life-trying-to-paint-the-prettiest/) [Caleb Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-plant/) > [I'm painting an idea not an ideal. Basically I'm trying to paint a structured painting full of controlled, and therefore potent, emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euan-uglow/i-m-painting-an-idea-not-an-ideal-basically-i-m-trying-to-paint-a/) Euan Uglow > [“You’re trying to paint things as either black or white,” he said. “As either good or evil. It’s never that neat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/you-re-trying-to-paint-things-as-either-black-or-white-he-said-as/) [Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/) > [A heightened sense of the observation of nature is one of the chief delights that have come to me through trying to paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/a-heightened-sense-of-the-observation-of-nature-is-one-of-the-chief/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Josh Stern > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“When Unicorns headbutt, there are no winners" ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/when-unicorns-headbutt-there-are-no-winners/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“Behind every great man is a great woman' but in front of every great man should be a spectacular woman”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/behind-every-great-man-is-a-great-woman-but-in-front-of-every-great/) [josh stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“It's not hard to fail...it's hard to accept you failed...but once that's out of the way, it's pretty smooth sailing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/it-s-not-hard-to-fail-it-s-hard-to-accept-you-failed-but-once-that-s/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the blame”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/it-is-amazing-what-you-can-accomplish-if-you-do-not-care-who-gets-the/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“Not only will those ultra bright European sulphur diode high beams ' catch a deer in the headlights' they'll vaporize it too”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/not-only-will-those-ultra-bright-european-sulphur-diode-high-beams/) [josh stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“My Anorexic Ex was so skinny she didn't give head, she gave skull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/my-anorexic-ex-was-so-skinny-she-didn-t-give-head-she-gave-skull/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“You're only given as much as you can handle, before going back for seconds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/you-re-only-given-as-much-as-you-can-handle-before-going-back-for/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“It's not that I'm ahead of my time, it's more that the world is running late”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/it-s-not-that-i-m-ahead-of-my-time-it-s-more-that-the-world-is/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“If the love is not madness, then the sex is not insane”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/if-the-love-is-not-madness-then-the-sex-is-not-insane/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“As for Chicks with Daddy Issues: Do I really want to be with a Woman who wants to be my Father?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/as-for-chicks-with-daddy-issues-do-i-really-want-to-be-with-a-woman/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“The practice of doing more than necessary works best when packing lunch boxes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/the-practice-of-doing-more-than-necessary-works-best-when-packing/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“I hate cutting my wrists while shaving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-hate-cutting-my-wrists-while-shaving/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“I like my coffee like I like myself…making rustling noises inside a burlap bag”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-like-my-coffee-like-i-like-myself-making-rustling-noises-inside-a/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [“If you know how to open doors with just a smile, you must need your teeth capped every six months”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/if-you-know-how-to-open-doors-with-just-a-smile-you-must-need-your/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) [Explore all 164 Josh Stern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) ## 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": "“True ambition is trying to paint yourself out of a corner”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Stern" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yourself-out-of-a-corner/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yourself-out-of-a-corner/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/josh-stern-2480_ambition_true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yoursel_1595749.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/josh-stern-2480_ambition_true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yoursel_1595749.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/josh-stern-2480_ambition_true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yoursel_1595749.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“True ambition is trying to paint yourself out of a corner” — Josh Stern", "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 Stern", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“True ambition is trying to paint...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yourself-out-of-a-corner/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yourself-out-of-a-corner/#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 } } ] } ```