--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambition is the desire to go forward and…" description: "\"Ambition is the desire to go forward and improve one's condition. It is a burning flame that lights up the life of the individual and makes him see him..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/marcus-garvey-3106_ambition_ambition-is-the-desire-to-go-forward-and_2006968.jpg" --- # Ambition is the desire to go forward and improve one's… ![“Ambition is the desire to go forward and improve one's condition. It is a burning flame that lights up the life of the individual and makes him see himself in another state. To be ambitious is to be great in mind and soul. To want that which is worth while and strive for it. To go on without…” quote by Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/marcus-garvey-3106_ambition_ambition-is-the-desire-to-go-forward-and_2006968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/marcus-garvey-3106_ambition_ambition-is-the-desire-to-go-forward-and_2006968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/marcus-garvey-3106_ambition_ambition-is-the-desire-to-go-forward-and_2006968.jpg) > “Ambition is the desire to go forward and improve one's condition. It is a burning flame that lights up the life of the individual and makes him see himself in another state. To be ambitious is to be great in mind and soul. To want that which is worth while and strive for it. To go on without looking back, reaching to that which gives satisfaction.” [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition drives personal growth, urging continual progress toward meaningful goals. **In simple terms:** Ambition pushes you to improve and aim higher. Key Takeaway Pursue meaningful goals relentlessly. Themes growth purpose determination Mood inspired determined hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - education - entrepreneurship - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts self‑actualization drive vision Questions to Reflect On - What meaningful goal fuels your ambition? - How do you sustain drive without burning out? A Different Perspective Ambition can cause burnout if not balanced with rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-desire-460599/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Ambitious Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious-great-2573627/) [Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Flames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flames/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-up/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind and soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-soul/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Strive Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-looking-3563034/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Be ambitious. The great actor, director and playwright Ann Jellicoe commissioned writers like Howard Barker and David Edgar, and put on magnificent, large-scale plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/be-ambitious-the-great-actor-director-and-playwright-ann-jellicoe/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Looking back, now, I realize that you only ever need one person who lights up that way when you enter a room. One person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/looking-back-now-i-realize-that-you-only-ever-need-one-person-who/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/great-ambition-the-desire-of-real-superiority-of-leading-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [If you have a burning ambition and desire, absolutely anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahangir-khan/if-you-have-a-burning-ambition-and-desire-absolutely-anything-can-be/) [Jahangir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahangir-khan/) > [There is scarce any passion so heartily decried by moralists and satirists, as AMBITION; and yet, methinks, ambition is not a vice but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/there-is-scarce-any-passion-so-heartily-decried-by-moralists-and/) [Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/) > [“Nothing but ambition, nothing but the desire to get on, that's all there is in his soul," she thought; "as for these lofty ideals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/nothing-but-ambition-nothing-but-the-desire-to-get-on-that-s-all/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I think ambition is a desire for recognition. People want to be special. I think ambition can take in a whole package of things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/i-think-ambition-is-a-desire-for-recognition-people-want-to-be/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [If ambition is the desire to be the best at what you do, then I'm guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-checketts/if-ambition-is-the-desire-to-be-the-best-at-what-you-do-then-i-m/) [Dave Checketts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-checketts/) > [“Sometimes in church circles, we talk more about contentment (which is a good thing) but it can minimize the importance of ambition—that somehow it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mcculley/sometimes-in-church-circles-we-talk-more-about-contentment-which-is-a/) [Carolyn McCulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mcculley/) > [It is my ambition and desire to so administer the affairs of the government while I remain President that if at the end I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-my-ambition-and-desire-to-so-administer-the-affairs-of-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What is ambition but desire of greatness? And what is greatness but extent of power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-higgons/what-is-ambition-but-desire-of-greatness-and-what-is-greatness-but/) [Thomas Higgons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-higgons/) > [I never engaged in public affairs for my own interest, pleasure, envy, jealousy, avarice or ambition, or even the desire of fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-never-engaged-in-public-affairs-for-my-own-interest-pleasure-envy/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“I believe at least in one of the chief tenets of the Christian faith--contentment with a lowly place. I am a doctor and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-believe-at-least-in-one-of-the-chief-tenets-of-the-christian-faith/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Ambition and desire are the roots of success...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-may/ambition-and-desire-are-the-roots-of-success/) [Milana May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-may/) > [I've experienced love and ambition and desire in my life, but never in the same way as in a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-denis/i-ve-experienced-love-and-ambition-and-desire-in-my-life-but-never-in/) [Claire Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-denis/) ## More by Marcus Garvey > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [We welcome the opposition of the world, because we are determined to see the battle through. Africa's battle-cry is not yet heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/we-welcome-the-opposition-of-the-world-because-we-are-determined-to/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Wake up Ethiopia! Wake up Africa! Let us work towards the one glorious end of a free, redeemed and mighty nation. Let Africa be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/wake-up-ethiopia-wake-up-africa-let-us-work-towards-the-one-glorious/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [The thing to do is to get organized; keep separated and you will be exploited, you will be robbed, you will be killed. Get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/the-thing-to-do-is-to-get-organized-keep-separated-and-you-will-be/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [If you get up everyday and you don't learn you are a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/if-you-get-up-everyday-and-you-don-t-learn-you-are-a-fool/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [It is only the belief and the confidence we have in a God why man is able to understand his own social institutions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/it-is-only-the-belief-and-the-confidence-we-have-in-a-god-why-man-is/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Behind the murder of millions of Negroes annually in Africa is the well organized system of exploitation by the alien intruders who desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/behind-the-murder-of-millions-of-negroes-annually-in-africa-is-the/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Every man has a right to his own opinion. Every race has a right to its own action; therefore let no man persuade you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/every-man-has-a-right-to-his-own-opinion-every-race-has-a-right-to/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Do not remove the kinks from your hair--remove them from your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/do-not-remove-the-kinks-from-your-hair-remove-them-from-your-brain/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [I have no desire to take all black people back to Africa; there are blacks who are no good here and will likewise be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/i-have-no-desire-to-take-all-black-people-back-to-africa-there-are/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [God does not... give people positions or jobs or... good conditions such as they desire; they must do that for themselves.. God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/god-does-not-give-people-positions-or-jobs-or-good-conditions-such-as/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again. Lose not courage or faith, go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/black-men-you-were-once-great-you-shall-be-great-again-lose-not/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [This propaganda of dis-associating Western Negroes from Africa is not a new one. For many years white propagandists have been printing tons of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/this-propaganda-of-dis-associating-western-negroes-from-africa-is-not/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [There can be no peace among men and nations, so long as the strong continues to oppress the weak, so long as injustice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/there-can-be-no-peace-among-men-and-nations-so-long-as-the-strong/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/take-advantage-of-every-opportunity-where-there-is-none-make-it-for/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) [Explore all 139 Marcus Garvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) ## 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": "Ambition is the desire to go forward and improve one's condition. 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