--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jo’s ambition was to do something very…" description: "\"“Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell her; and, meanwhile, found her great..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/louisa-may-alcott-318_ambition_jo-s-ambition-was-to-do-something-very-s_1221040.jpg" --- # Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid; what it… ![“Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell her; and, meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldn’t read, run, and ride as much as she liked. A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always…” quote by Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/louisa-may-alcott-318_ambition_jo-s-ambition-was-to-do-something-very-s_1221040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/louisa-may-alcott-318_ambition_jo-s-ambition-was-to-do-something-very-s_1221040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/louisa-may-alcott-318_ambition_jo-s-ambition-was-to-do-something-very-s_1221040.jpg) > ““Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell her; and, meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldn’t read, run, and ride as much as she liked. A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic.”” [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young woman’s ambitions clash with limitations, leading to a mix of comedy and tragedy. **In simple terms:** Striving despite obstacles, with mixed outcomes. Key Takeaway Embrace growth and accept imperfections. Themes ambition limitations growth Mood reflective empathetic Type literary character study When to use this quote - education - personal development - creative pursuits Key Concepts self‑discovery resilience humor Questions to Reflect On - How can you adapt goals? - What strengths help you overcome setbacks? A Different Perspective Ambitions can be hindered by external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Restless spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless-spirit/) [Sharp tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharp-tongue/) [Ups and downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ups-and-downs/) ## Related quotes > [Jo's ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea, as yet, but left it for time to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/jo-s-ambition-was-to-do-something-very-splendid-what-it-was-she-had-2/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/a-quick-temper-sharp-tongue-and-restless-spirit-were-always-getting/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“By-and-by Jo roamed away upstairs, for it was rainy, and she could not walk. A restless spirit possessed her, and the old feeling came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/by-and-by-jo-roamed-away-upstairs-for-it-was-rainy-and-she-could-not/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“We are to choose affliction rather than sin, yea, the greatest affliction before the least sin. Moses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/we-are-to-choose-affliction-rather-than-sin-yea-the-greatest/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [My greatest affliction... is perhaps the major theme of my writings, the affliction of loneliness that follows me like a shadow, a very ponderous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/my-greatest-affliction-is-perhaps-the-major-theme-of-my-writings-the/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [No man is more unhappy than the one who is never in adversity; the greatest affliction of life is never to be afflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/no-man-is-more-unhappy-than-the-one-who-is-never-in-adversity-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/there-is-more-evil-in-the-least-sin-than-in-the-greatest-affliction/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [I grew up with a very quick temper, and the language of violence is a language that I'm very familiar and comfortable with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bryk/i-grew-up-with-a-very-quick-temper-and-the-language-of-violence-is-a/) [Greg Bryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bryk/) > [I've started meditating, but I do have a quick temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/i-ve-started-meditating-but-i-do-have-a-quick-temper/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [A child that has a quick temper, just blaze up and cool down, ain't never likely to be sly or deceitful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/a-child-that-has-a-quick-temper-just-blaze-up-and-cool-down-ain-t/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/a-quick-temper-will-make-a-fool-of-you-soon-enough/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Thou knowst the oer-eager vehemence of youth,How quick in temper, and in judgement weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/thou-knowst-the-oer-eager-vehemence-of-youth-how-quick-in-temper-and/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [A hope beyond the shadow of a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-hope-beyond-the-shadow-of-a-dream/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I am blessed or cursed, depending on how you look at it, with an incurably restless spirit and the ability to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvatore-ferragamo/i-am-blessed-or-cursed-depending-on-how-you-look-at-it-with-an/) Salvatore Ferragamo > [“With all respect, Sahib, you have little to teach us in strength and toughness. And we do not envy you your restless spirits. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/with-all-respect-sahib-you-have-little-to-teach-us-in-strength-and/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) ## More by Louisa May Alcott > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“At three o'clock in the afternoon, all the fashionable world at Nice may be seen on the Promenade des Anglais—a charming place, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/at-three-o-clock-in-the-afternoon-all-the-fashionable-world-at-nice/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Please could I say one word?" was the question three times repeated before a rough head boobed out from the grotto of books in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/please-could-i-say-one-word-was-the-question-three-times-repeated/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Elegance has a bad effect on my constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/elegance-has-a-bad-effect-on-my-constitution/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“…the child's heart bled when it was broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-child-s-heart-bled-when-it-was-broken/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“She would make a man of me. She puts strength and courage into me as no one else can. She is unlike any girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/she-would-make-a-man-of-me-she-puts-strength-and-courage-into-me-as/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“I read somewhere that every inch of rope used in the British Navy has a strand of red in it, so that wherever a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-read-somewhere-that-every-inch-of-rope-used-in-the-british-navy-has/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Chance words spoken in kindness often help amazingly; and that's what old people are here for -- else their experience is of little use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/chance-words-spoken-in-kindness-often-help-amazingly-and-that-s-what/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Tired of my own company, I suppose, now I've seen so much better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/tired-of-my-own-company-i-suppose-now-i-ve-seen-so-much-better/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Oft in the silence of the night, When the lonely moon rides high, When wintry winds are whistling, And we hear the owl's shrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/oft-in-the-silence-of-the-night-when-the-lonely-moon-rides-high-when/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [But buds will be roses, and kittens, cats - more's the pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/but-buds-will-be-roses-and-kittens-cats-more-s-the-pity/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“I'll try and be what he loves to call me, 'a little woman' and not be rough and wild, but do my duty here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-ll-try-and-be-what-he-loves-to-call-me-a-little-woman-and-not-be/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/if-you-feel-your-value-lies-in-being-merely-decorative-i-fear-that/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“ "I do not ask for any crown But that which all may win; Nor try to conquer any world Except the world within." ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-do-not-ask-for-any-crown-but-that-which-all-may-win-nor-try-to/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Some books are so familiar that reading them is like being home again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/some-books-are-so-familiar-that-reading-them-is-like-being-home-again/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) [Explore all 681 Louisa May Alcott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) ## 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": "“Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell her; and, meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldn’t read, run, and ride as much as she liked. 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