--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But ambition is a funny thing: it creeps…" description: "\"But ambition is a funny thing: it creeps in when you least expect it and keeps you moving, even when you think you want to stay put.\" — Lena Dunham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/lena-dunham-1013_ambition_but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps_1234464.jpg" --- # But ambition is a funny thing: it creeps in when you least… ![“But ambition is a funny thing: it creeps in when you least expect it and keeps you moving, even when you think you want to stay put.” quote by Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/lena-dunham-1013_ambition_but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps_1234464.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/lena-dunham-1013_ambition_but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps_1234464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/lena-dunham-1013_ambition_but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps_1234464.jpg) > “But ambition is a funny thing: it creeps in when you least expect it and keeps you moving, even when you think you want to stay put.” [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition can arise unexpectedly, driving continued effort even when one desires stability. **In simple terms:** Ambition appears uninvited and pushes us forward. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected drive while balancing rest. Themes ambition motivation inner conflict growth Mood introspective motivational balanced Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - career development - personal coaching - creative projects Key Concepts psychology of desire self-discipline life planning Questions to Reflect On - What triggers hidden ambition in you? - How can you balance drive with contentment? A Different Perspective May ignore the need for rest and burnout risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Funny things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-things/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Ambition is a funny thing. It’s like being a Trekkie in that if you admit to it, those around you are mock supportive of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-leigh-stewart/ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-s-like-being-a-trekkie-in-that-if-you/) [Christy Leigh Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-leigh-stewart/) > [“loneliness is a strange sort of thing. it creeps up on you, quiet and still, sits by your side in the dark, strokes your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/loneliness-is-a-strange-sort-of-thing-it-creeps-up-on-you-quiet-and/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [Collecting is the sort of thing that creeps up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mellon/collecting-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-creeps-up-on-you/) [Paul Mellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mellon/) > [There is one thing I know for sure, when everything stops moving and I think of you, I smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-one-thing-i-know-for-sure-when-everything-stops-moving-and-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ambition is a funny thing. You can completely screw yourself with it if you're not careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-le-bon/ambition-is-a-funny-thing-you-can-completely-screw-yourself-with-it/) [Simon Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-le-bon/) > [Worse feeling is moving on when all you do is think of that person everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-dj-maxx/worse-feeling-is-moving-on-when-all-you-do-is-think-of-that-person/) Abel DJ Maxx > [Once, my little sister was walking down the street in her thick black glasses, and a homeless man muttered, Talk nerdy to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/once-my-little-sister-was-walking-down-the-street-in-her-thick-black/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Barbie’s disfigured. It’s fine to play with her just as long as you keep that in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/barbie-s-disfigured-it-s-fine-to-play-with-her-just-as-long-as-you/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [When I was nine, I wrote a vow of celibacy on a piece of paper and ate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/when-i-was-nine-i-wrote-a-vow-of-celibacy-on-a-piece-of-paper-and-ate/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [There's a certain grace to having your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/there-s-a-certain-grace-to-having-your-heart-broken/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Throughout the day I often ask myself, Could I fall asleep right now? and the answer is always a resounding yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/throughout-the-day-i-often-ask-myself-could-i-fall-asleep-right-now/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [It's not brave to do something that doesn't scare you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-s-not-brave-to-do-something-that-doesn-t-scare-you/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I deserved kisses. I deserved to be treated like a piece of meat but also respected for my intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-deserved-kisses-i-deserved-to-be-treated-like-a-piece-of-meat-but/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Don't put yourself in situations you'd like to run away from. But when you run, run back to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/don-t-put-yourself-in-situations-you-d-like-to-run-away-from-but-when/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [You’ve learned a new rule and it’s simple: don’t put yourself in situations you’d like to run away from. But when you run, run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/you-ve-learned-a-new-rule-and-it-s-simple-don-t-put-yourself-in/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## More by Lena Dunham > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“Oberlin being a liberal haven where opposition was king, the coolest clique at school was a group of rugby-playing, neon-wearing lesbians. They dominated every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/oberlin-being-a-liberal-haven-where-opposition-was-king-the-coolest/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Calling someone a drama queen is so negative. Why not 'content creator'?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/calling-someone-a-drama-queen-is-so-negative-why-not-content-creator/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My relationship to eating, my relationship to critiquing my own shape, all of that has changed since I've started viewing my body much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-relationship-to-eating-my-relationship-to-critiquing-my-own-shape/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“I am sorry (not to you but in a deeper way, sorry for my brain chemistry and who I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-am-sorry-not-to-you-but-in-a-deeper-way-sorry-for-my-brain/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [It's very easy for me to say what success is. I think success is connecting with an audience who understands you and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-s-very-easy-for-me-to-say-what-success-is-i-think-success-is/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [At my age, no one is married, no one has kids, no one has a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/at-my-age-no-one-is-married-no-one-has-kids-no-one-has-a-career/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I should do the things that make me feel cool and smart. As I get older, I'm realizing more and more that it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-should-do-the-things-that-make-me-feel-cool-and-smart-as-i-get/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My shape reminds me a lot of my grandmother, whom I was really close to. She died when I was 13, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-shape-reminds-me-a-lot-of-my-grandmother-whom-i-was-really-close/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I never set out to make any statements about a specific character, I just set out to tell what feels like is a truthful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-never-set-out-to-make-any-statements-about-a-specific-character-i/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [You’ve learned a new rule and it’s simple: don’t put yourself in situations you’d like to run away from. But when you run, run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/you-ve-learned-a-new-rule-and-it-s-simple-don-t-put-yourself-in/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I would go to work from 9 to 6, go home, nap for two hours, then write from 8 to 2 a.m.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-would-go-to-work-from-9-to-6-go-home-nap-for-two-hours-then-write/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My uncle's a lawyer and I remember going to see him in court and thinking, 'That's cool, too bad I could never be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-uncle-s-a-lawyer-and-i-remember-going-to-see-him-in-court-and/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I love directing scenes that I'm not in because suddenly I really feel like a filmmaker which is a different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-love-directing-scenes-that-i-m-not-in-because-suddenly-i-really/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I'm glad if my work can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-m-glad-if-my-work-can-make-a-difference/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) [Explore all 301 Lena Dunham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## 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": "But ambition is a funny thing: it creeps in when you least expect it and keeps you moving, even when you think you want to stay put.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lena Dunham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps-in-when-you-least-expect-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps-in-when-you-least-expect-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/lena-dunham-1013_ambition_but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps_1234464.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/lena-dunham-1013_ambition_but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps_1234464.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/lena-dunham-1013_ambition_but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps_1234464.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But ambition is a funny thing: it creeps in when you least expect it and keeps you moving, even when you…” — Lena Dunham", "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": "Lena Dunham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But ambition is a funny thing:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps-in-when-you-least-expect-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/but-ambition-is-a-funny-thing-it-creeps-in-when-you-least-expect-it/#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 } } ] } ```