Ambition Quote by Parke Godwin
““There’s not a stone or leaf or life that men won’t put a name to. It gives them a nice safe box to collect things in. They get in the habit of collecting things and end up surprised at the weight they’re carrying. A dream they thought might fit someday, something bright and sweet like a woman, picked up for her shine and somehow never left or at least never forgotten. Or an ambition! There’s a fine item in any man’s bag. A great, glowing ambition. They never fade, never wear even when you’ve outgrown them. Always there to look at and remember and play might-have-been.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Last of the Renshaw by Parke Godwin, 1999
People label everything, creating mental boxes that accumulate hopes, ambitions, and memories, which can become burdensome if not examined.
In simple terms: Naming things creates mental baggage.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and release unneeded mental baggage.
Themes
identity
memory
burden
ambition
reflection
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- relationship counseling
- career planning
- creative writing
Key Concepts
psychology
symbolism
attachment
Questions to Reflect On
- What mental boxes are you carrying?
- How can you let go of outdated ambitions?
A Different Perspective
Labels can limit perception and trap us in past expectations.
![“Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men [and women].” quote by Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b4c/zora-neale-hurston-923_death_ships-at-a-distance-have-every-man-s-wis_14724.jpg)
