--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ambition and focus that propel you to…" description: "\"The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.\" — Judy Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/judy-smith-11764_ambition_the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-t_572269.jpg" --- # The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also… ![“The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.” quote by Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/judy-smith-11764_ambition_the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-t_572269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/judy-smith-11764_ambition_the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-t_572269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/judy-smith-11764_ambition_the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-t_572269.jpg) > “The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.” [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition and focus drive success but can also become a weakness if unchecked. **In simple terms:** Drive can become a flaw. Key Takeaway Balance drive with humility. Themes ambition focus success downfall Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - leadership - entrepreneurship - personal development Key Concepts psychology self-awareness risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep ambition in check? - When does focus become rigidity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on ambition may blind you to risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-focus-4720357/) [Downfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downfall/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Downfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-downfall-4720356/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related 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/) > [“fuck wishing. you're missing the ambition on your mission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/outkast/fuck-wishing-you-re-missing-the-ambition-on-your-mission/) [OutKast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/outkast/) > [Failure is only postponed success as long as courage 'coaches' ambition. The habit of persistence is the habit of victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-kaufman/failure-is-only-postponed-success-as-long-as-courage-coaches-ambition/) [Herbert Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-kaufman/) > [Ability determines how much you are capable, motivation determines how much you are interested and committed, attitude determines your approach to endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/ability-determines-how-much-you-are-capable-motivation-determines-how/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/great-ambition-is-the-passion-of-a-great-character-those-endowed-with/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Why should some foul word-slinging curb my ambitions?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronika-carnaby/why-should-some-foul-word-slinging-curb-my-ambitions/) [Veronika Carnaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronika-carnaby/) > [Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings. Dedicate yourself. Anything you truly want must be worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/intelligence-without-ambition-is-a-bird-without-wings-dedicate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ambition devours gold and drinks blood and climbs so high by other men's heads, that at the length in the fall, it breaks its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/ambition-devours-gold-and-drinks-blood-and-climbs-so-high-by-other/) [Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/) > [America breeds ambition and while that can be a good thing, sometimes it's not. Ambition also breeds competition and that can be a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-khan/america-breeds-ambition-and-while-that-can-be-a-good-thing-sometimes/) [Chaka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-khan/) > [My ambition is to win some trophies. That's why I am playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-giroud/my-ambition-is-to-win-some-trophies-that-s-why-i-am-playing-football/) [Olivier Giroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-giroud/) > [A lot of people have the ambition, but they never ask themselves, Do I really believe I can do this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/a-lot-of-people-have-the-ambition-but-they-never-ask-themselves-do-i/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [It's interesting when you wind up distilling all your ambitions and your goals and dreams into one single person. It's giving that person a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/it-s-interesting-when-you-wind-up-distilling-all-your-ambitions-and/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) ## More by Judy Smith > [Smart people are no different than anyone else. Sometimes they exercise bad judgment, like we all do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/smart-people-are-no-different-than-anyone-else-sometimes-they/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [My experience at the White House was invaluable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/my-experience-at-the-white-house-was-invaluable/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [Allegations become facts, and facts become truth in the eyes of the public, whether they are true or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/allegations-become-facts-and-facts-become-truth-in-the-eyes-of-the/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [A crisis, by its very nature, is a negative event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/a-crisis-by-its-very-nature-is-a-negative-event/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [If I can, for whatever reason, inspire and motivate people, that's a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/if-i-can-for-whatever-reason-inspire-and-motivate-people-that-s-a/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [I will say this about the truth - that it's one of those crisis rules, whether you are a client or someone who's living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/i-will-say-this-about-the-truth-that-it-s-one-of-those-crisis-rules/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [I've always been interested in image and reputation management. Because really, when you think about it, it is an old phrase, but all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-image-and-reputation-management/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [When times are good, a CEO should remain poised and composed. When times are difficult, a CEO should remain poised and composed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/when-times-are-good-a-ceo-should-remain-poised-and-composed-when/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [It can be a real blow to our egos when we feel as if our hard-earned degrees don't matter as much as our ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/it-can-be-a-real-blow-to-our-egos-when-we-feel-as-if-our-hard-earned/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [“PEACEFULNESS: Do not allow life's challenges to disturb your tranquility. Life is far too precious to be wasted on nonessential issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/peacefulness-do-not-allow-life-s-challenges-to-disturb-your/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [Establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers. You don't have to be friends, but you do have to be friendly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/establish-and-maintain-good-working-relationships-with-co-workers-you/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [I charge by the hour, or I am on a retainer. We try to work with the client.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/i-charge-by-the-hour-or-i-am-on-a-retainer-we-try-to-work-with-the/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [Unless you work in HR, it's not your responsibility to necessarily police and monitor workplace conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/unless-you-work-in-hr-it-s-not-your-responsibility-to-necessarily/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [My theory on an existing crisis is that you have to be very strategic about each case's unique elements. If a crisis involves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/my-theory-on-an-existing-crisis-is-that-you-have-to-be-very-strategic/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) > [Make sure you are clear about the expectations your boss has for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/make-sure-you-are-clear-about-the-expectations-your-boss-has-for-you/) [Judy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) [Explore all 58 Judy Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/) ## 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": "The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judy Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-to-success-can-also-be-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-to-success-can-also-be-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/judy-smith-11764_ambition_the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-t_572269.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/judy-smith-11764_ambition_the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-t_572269.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/judy-smith-11764_ambition_the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-t_572269.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.” — Judy Smith", "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": "Judy Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ambition and focus that propel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-to-success-can-also-be-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-smith/the-ambition-and-focus-that-propel-you-to-success-can-also-be-your/#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 } } ] } ```