--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing worse than a weak man with…" description: "\"“Nothing worse than a weak man with ambition, who gains power because those before him died rather than because his ideals were grand.”\" — Melina March..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/melina-marchetta-392_ambition_nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambit_2281014.png" --- # Nothing worse than a weak man with ambition, who gains… ![“Nothing worse than a weak man with ambition, who gains power because those before him died rather than because his ideals were grand.” quote by Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/melina-marchetta-392_ambition_nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambit_2281014.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/melina-marchetta-392_ambition_nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambit_2281014.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/melina-marchetta-392_ambition_nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambit_2281014.png) > ““Nothing worse than a weak man with ambition, who gains power because those before him died rather than because his ideals were grand.”” [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambitious but weak individuals gain power through others' deaths, not noble ideals. **In simple terms:** Weak ambition thrives on others' demise. Key Takeaway Cultivate strength and integrity over ruthless ambition. Themes politics power morality Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - corporate climbs - political campaigns - social movements - personal ambition Key Concepts ethical leadership authoritarianism Questions to Reflect On - What defines true strength? - How can societies reward noble ambition? A Different Perspective Power obtained through exploitation is unstable and destructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ## Related quotes > [A young man's ambition is to get along in the world and make a place for himself-half your life goes that way, till you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/a-young-man-s-ambition-is-to-get-along-in-the-world-and-make-a-place/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [I know nothing more worthy of a man's ambition than that his son be the best of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-know-nothing-more-worthy-of-a-man-s-ambition-than-that-his-son-be/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [A young man without ambition is an old man waiting to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/a-young-man-without-ambition-is-an-old-man-waiting-to-be/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [“The man of ambition thinks to find his good in the operations of others; the man of pleasure in his own sensations; but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-man-of-ambition-thinks-to-find-his-good-in-the-operations-of/) [marcus aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The biggest changes in a women's nature are brought by love; in man, by ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-changes-in-a-women-s-nature-are-brought-by-love-in-man-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An educated man without ambition is as badly off as an ambitious man without education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/an-educated-man-without-ambition-is-as-badly-off-as-an-ambitious-man/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [A man without ambition is worse than dough that has no yeast in it to raise it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-man-without-ambition-is-worse-than-dough-that-has-no-yeast-in-it-to/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A young man's ambition, can there be a more fleeting prospect?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/a-young-man-s-ambition-can-there-be-a-more-fleeting-prospect/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [So long as the man with ambition is a failure, the world will tell him to let go of his ideal; but when his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-d-larson/so-long-as-the-man-with-ambition-is-a-failure-the-world-will-tell-him/) [Christian D. Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-d-larson/) > [Going after anything worthwile in life entailed risk, of course. A man of ambition and courage didn't let that stop or delay him. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jakes/going-after-anything-worthwile-in-life-entailed-risk-of-course-a-man/) [John Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jakes/) > [Find a man with ambition because in 20 years swag won't pay the bills Yeah, quotes from google won't pay them either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/find-a-man-with-ambition-because-in-20-years-swag-won-t-pay-the-bills/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-bailey/a-man-without-ambition-is-dead-a-man-with-ambition-but-no-love-is/) [Pearl Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-bailey/) > [Since a rational man's ambition is unlimited, since his pursuit and achievement of values is a life-long process — and the higher the values,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/since-a-rational-man-s-ambition-is-unlimited-since-his-pursuit-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Frog in the mud is happier than the man, because it has no ambition to reach the stars!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/frog-in-the-mud-is-happier-than-the-man-because-it-has-no-ambition-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [What likelihood is there of corrupting a man who has no ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/what-likelihood-is-there-of-corrupting-a-man-who-has-no-ambition/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) ## More by Melina Marchetta > [Some of us weren't born for rewards, Froi. We were born for sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/some-of-us-weren-t-born-for-rewards-froi-we-were-born-for-sacrifices/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I'm very disturbed to find out that the leader of the Townies has a soul and I'm beginning to develop a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-very-disturbed-to-find-out-that-the-leader-of-the-townies-has-a/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [In the games of queens and kings, we leave our dreams at the door and we make do with what we have. Sometimes if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/in-the-games-of-queens-and-kings-we-leave-our-dreams-at-the-door-and/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [And then you came along and you spoke to me and nobody had looked me in the eye for years. (...) But I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/and-then-you-came-along-and-you-spoke-to-me-and-nobody-had-looked-me/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Do you want to know something about tyrants? When faced with death, they weep and they beg just like the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/do-you-want-to-know-something-about-tyrants-when-faced-with-death/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“you do that all the time you know. you ask me questions when you know the answer will piss you off. ask me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-do-that-all-the-time-you-know-you-ask-me-questions-when-you-know/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I need voices of reason and of hysteria and of empathy. I need to have an Alanis moment. I need advice from Elizabeth Bennett.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-need-voices-of-reason-and-of-hysteria-and-of-empathy-i-need-to-have/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“When I saw "Ulysses" on Georgie's bedside table and Tom Finch's name written on it in a scrawl so like my old man's, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/when-i-saw-ulysses-on-georgie-s-bedside-table-and-tom-finch-s-name/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“Our bodies aren't strangers,' he said, his voice ragged. 'Our spirits aren't strangers'. He held her face in his hands. 'Tell me what part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/our-bodies-aren-t-strangers-he-said-his-voice-ragged-our-spirits-aren/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Phaedra of Alonso’s death was a never-ending pain that gnawed at his insides. It made him a prisoner in his own cottage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/phaedra-of-alonso-s-death-was-a-never-ending-pain-that-gnawed-at-his/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [You know what? You didn't do anything wrong. I did. It's this dumb thing I do. I look into things and see more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-know-what-you-didn-t-do-anything-wrong-i-did-it-s-this-dumb-thing/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Everything's going to be fine. She'll be back at work soon. Let's just keep the house clean." Oh yeah, I want to say, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/everything-s-going-to-be-fine-she-ll-be-back-at-work-soon-let-s-just/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [See them together and you will feel a force that will take your breath away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/see-them-together-and-you-will-feel-a-force-that-will-take-your/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [We don't even love each other. I do a bit, you know. You do what a bit? You know. Like you...whatever...love you a bit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/we-don-t-even-love-each-other-i-do-a-bit-you-know-you-do-what-a-bit/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I’m scared I’m going to spend the rest of my life in a state of yearning, regardless of where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-scared-i-m-going-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-in-a-state-of/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) [Explore all 602 Melina Marchetta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## 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": "“Nothing worse than a weak man with ambition, who gains power because those before him died rather than because his ideals were grand.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Melina Marchetta" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambition-who-gains-power-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambition-who-gains-power-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/melina-marchetta-392_ambition_nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambit_2281014.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/melina-marchetta-392_ambition_nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambit_2281014.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/melina-marchetta-392_ambition_nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambit_2281014.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing worse than a weak man with ambition, who gains power because those before him died rather than…” — Melina Marchetta", "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": "Melina Marchetta", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Nothing worse than a weak man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambition-who-gains-power-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/nothing-worse-than-a-weak-man-with-ambition-who-gains-power-because/#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 } } ] } ```