--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can smell your ambition like blood in…" description: "\"“I can smell your ambition like blood in the water.”\" — Leigh Bardugo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/leigh-bardugo-252_ambition_i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in_2722448.png" --- # I can smell your ambition like blood in the water. ![“I can smell your ambition like blood in the water.” quote by Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/leigh-bardugo-252_ambition_i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in_2722448.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/leigh-bardugo-252_ambition_i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in_2722448.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/leigh-bardugo-252_ambition_i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in_2722448.png) > ““I can smell your ambition like blood in the water.”” [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker senses a rival’s drive as a dangerous, predatory force. **In simple terms:** Ambition feels threatening. Key Takeaway Recognize when ambition becomes hostile. Themes competition danger ambition predation Mood tense alert strategic Type literary dialogue dramatic When to use this quote - Corporate rivalry - political maneuvering - sports competition - personal relationships Key Concepts Power dynamics psychological tension Questions to Reflect On - How do you channel ambition constructively? - When does ambition become harmful? A Different Perspective Ambition can be motivating, not just threatening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [When there are fish heads and blood in the water, you don't need to see the silverpike to know they are there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/when-there-are-fish-heads-and-blood-in-the-water-you-don-t-need-to/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“It is not a sin, he tells himself, there is no sin left now, there is only the blood and the water and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcguire/it-is-not-a-sin-he-tells-himself-there-is-no-sin-left-now-there-is/) Ian McGuire > [There's an awful lot of blood around that water is thicker than.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-s-an-awful-lot-of-blood-around-that-water-is-thicker-than/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [As it is a major component of blood, water is vital for transporting oxygen to the brain. Heaven forbid that your blood should dry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-goldacre/as-it-is-a-major-component-of-blood-water-is-vital-for-transporting/) [Ben Goldacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-goldacre/) > [“Uh-oh, big boy. Your blood is in the water and the sharks are circling. 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Kaye: Like he slit his wrists in a bathtub and the blood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/kaye-you-know-what-the-sun-looks-like-janet-no-what-kaye-like-he-slit/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Ender stepped under the water and rinsed himself, took the sweat of combat and let it run down the drain. All gone, except they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/ender-stepped-under-the-water-and-rinsed-himself-took-the-sweat-of/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“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 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/) > [Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law-but-its-appetite/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [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/) ## More by Leigh Bardugo > [“Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/aleksander-his-eyes-fluttered-shut-don-t-let-me-be-alone-he-murmured/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-danced-naked-on-the-roof-of-the-little-palace/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“They're all crazy, Oncat. Invisible armies, monster princes. Let's go set fire to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/they-re-all-crazy-oncat-invisible-armies-monster-princes-let-s-go-set/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Saints!" I swore. "I forgot how often I want to stab you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/saints-i-swore-i-forgot-how-often-i-want-to-stab-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. His presence reverberated through the cramped rooms and crooked hallways as every thug, thief, dealer, con…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-knew-the-moment-kaz-entered-the-slat-his-presence-reverberated/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-risked-my-life-for-you-i-ve-walked-half-the-length-of-ravka-for/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-never-know-said-nikolai-i-ve-been-busy-i-might-have-some/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“But I pushed down my confused tears and did as she asked, still hoping that whatever I’d broken might be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/but-i-pushed-down-my-confused-tears-and-did-as-she-asked-still-hoping/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“There, she wrote fantastical tales that charmed children, and under another name, she penned rather more lurid works that kept her in nougat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-she-wrote-fantastical-tales-that-charmed-children-and-under/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Short on friends, your highness?" "And long on enemies," replied Nikolai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/short-on-friends-your-highness-and-long-on-enemies-replied-nikolai/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jesper-knocked-his-head-against-the-hull-and-cast-his-eyes-heavenward/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) [Explore all 782 Leigh Bardugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## 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": "“I can smell your ambition like blood in the water.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leigh Bardugo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in-the-water/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in-the-water/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/leigh-bardugo-252_ambition_i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in_2722448.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/leigh-bardugo-252_ambition_i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in_2722448.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/leigh-bardugo-252_ambition_i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in_2722448.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can smell your ambition like blood in the water.” — Leigh Bardugo", "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": "Leigh Bardugo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I can smell your ambition like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in-the-water/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-can-smell-your-ambition-like-blood-in-the-water/#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 } } ] } ```