--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Make mistakes of ambition and not…" description: "\"Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_make-mistakes-of-ambition-and-not-mistak_2560397.jpg" --- # Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth… ![“Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_make-mistakes-of-ambition-and-not-mistak_2560397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_make-mistakes-of-ambition-and-not-mistak_2560397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/niccolo-machiavelli-368_action_make-mistakes-of-ambition-and-not-mistak_2560397.jpg) > “Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages daring actions driven by ambition rather than laziness, urging strength to pursue bold goals instead of merely avoiding suffering. **In simple terms:** Choose ambition over laziness. Key Takeaway Pursue bold goals, not just avoid pain. Themes ambition courage action Mood motivational serious Type ethicalilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - creative projects - personal growth - overcoming fear Key Concepts risk‑taking self‑discipline leadership Questions to Reflect On - What bold step can you take today? - How do you differentiate ambition from reckless risk? A Different Perspective Bold moves can lead to failure if not planned. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-mistakes-1296327/) [Develop Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/develop-strength-1503661/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Make mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-mistakes/) [Making mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-mistakes/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes-ambition-1296328/) [Sloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [There are two types of mistakes: mistakes of ambition and mistakes of sloth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/there-are-two-types-of-mistakes-mistakes-of-ambition-and-mistakes-of/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [“A true leader makes mistakes of ambition rather than mistakes of apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition-rather-than-mistakes-of/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [Every young man is prone to be misled by the suggestions of his own ill-founded ambition which he mistakes for the promptings of asecret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-young-man-is-prone-to-be-misled-by-the-suggestions-of-his-own/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/all-courses-of-action-are-risky-so-prudence-is-not-in-avoiding-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-strong-man-cannot-help-a-weaker-unless-the-weaker-is-willing-to-be/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Develop strength and control at an early age and embrace love coupled with a selfless heart. Only then, will you find true peace in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/develop-strength-and-control-at-an-early-age-and-embrace-love-coupled/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength. 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Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-v-johnson/) > [The struggling you do today will develop the strength you need tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/the-struggling-you-do-today-will-develop-the-strength-you-need/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-as-gently-as-a-woman/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“To develop a strength in any activity requires certain natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/to-develop-a-strength-in-any-activity-requires-certain-natural-talents/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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