---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambition, like love, can abide no…"
description: "\"Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever urgeth on his own successes, hating nothing but what may stop them.\" — Philip Sidney"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/philip-sidney-2095_ambition_ambition-like-love-can-abide-no-lingerin_2338857.png"
---

#  Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever…

![“Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever urgeth on his own successes, hating nothing but what may stop them.” quote by Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/philip-sidney-2095_ambition_ambition-like-love-can-abide-no-lingerin_2338857.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/philip-sidney-2095_ambition_ambition-like-love-can-abide-no-lingerin_2338857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/philip-sidney-2095_ambition_ambition-like-love-can-abide-no-lingerin_2338857.png)

> “Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever urgeth on his own successes, hating nothing but what may stop them.”

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ambition and love share a restless drive, demanding constant pursuit of personal triumph while rejecting obstacles

**In simple terms:** Ambition and love push us forward, ignoring hindrances

Key Takeaway

Pursue goals relentlessly, but stay aware of limits

Themes

drive passion determination

Mood

thoughtful determined

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- relationship building
- creative projects
- personal development

Key Concepts

Renaissance literature human desire self‑actualization

Questions to Reflect On

- What risks does relentless ambition pose?
- How can love support or hinder ambition?

A Different Perspective

Unchecked ambition may blind you to necessary caution

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[Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/)

## Related quotes

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> [But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/1-john-3-17/but-if-anyone-has-the-world-s-goods-and-sees-his-brother-in-need-yet/)

 1 John 3:17

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[Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-drummond/)

> [If it's true love, then it will abide. If it was a fleeting crush, then it will turn to dust. Either way, the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/if-it-s-true-love-then-it-will-abide-if-it-was-a-fleeting-crush-then/)

[Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/)

> [How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-the-apostle/how-does-god-s-love-abide-in-anyone-who-has-the-world-s-goods-and/)

[John the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-the-apostle/)

> [Some women make it look so easy, the way they cast ambition off like an expensive coat that no longer fits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-offill/some-women-make-it-look-so-easy-the-way-they-cast-ambition-off-like/)

[Jenny Offill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-offill/)

> [Ability Without Ambition Is Like A Car Without A Motor...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/ability-without-ambition-is-like-a-car-without-a-motor/)

Pacifiersucker

> [My ambition is to do what I like and to do good things that I might not have done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/my-ambition-is-to-do-what-i-like-and-to-do-good-things-that-i-might/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [A dream without ambition is like a car without gas... you're not going anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hampton/a-dream-without-ambition-is-like-a-car-without-gas-you-re-not-going/)

Sean Hampton

> [Ambition is like hunger; it obeys no law but its appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/ambition-is-like-hunger-it-obeys-no-law-but-its-appetite/)

[Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

> [Ambition like a liquid ruby stains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/ambition-like-a-liquid-ruby-stains/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“I like ambition. I like someone who gets up in the morning and has a purpose. A real purpose. I have one. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-like-ambition-i-like-someone-who-gets-up-in-the-morning-and-has-a/)

[Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/)

> [Ambition, like a torrent, ne'er looks back; And is a swelling, and the last affection A high mind can put off; being both a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-ne-er-looks-back-and-is-a-swelling-and-the/)

[Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/)

> [Ambition is like a frog sitting on a Venus Flytrap. The flytrap can bite and bite, but it won't bother the frog because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ambition-is-like-a-frog-sitting-on-a-venus-flytrap-the-flytrap-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-never-looks-back/)

[Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/)

## More by Philip Sidney

> [Laws are not made like lime-twigs or nets, to catch everything that toucheth them; but rather like sea-marks, to guide from shipwreck the ignorant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/laws-are-not-made-like-lime-twigs-or-nets-to-catch-everything-that/)

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> [It is no less vain to wish death than it is cowardly to fear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/it-is-no-less-vain-to-wish-death-than-it-is-cowardly-to-fear-it/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valor, which should be lifted up to such a height that holding all things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/whatever-comes-out-of-despair-cannot-bear-the-title-of-valor-which/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [Sweet speaking oft a currish heart reclaims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/sweet-speaking-oft-a-currish-heart-reclaims/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [To be ambitious of true honor and of the real glory and perfection of our nature is the very principle and incentive of virtue;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/to-be-ambitious-of-true-honor-and-of-the-real-glory-and-perfection-of/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [He travels safe and not unpleasantly who is guarded by poverty and guided by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/he-travels-safe-and-not-unpleasantly-who-is-guarded-by-poverty-and/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/there-is-a-certain-delicacy-which-in-yielding-conquers-and-with-a/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [The glory and increase of wisdom stands in exercising it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/the-glory-and-increase-of-wisdom-stands-in-exercising-it/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/o-sweet-woods-the-delight-of-solitariness/)

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> [“Stella, the only planet of my light, Light of my life, and life of my desire, Chief good, whereto my hope doth only aspire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/stella-the-only-planet-of-my-light-light-of-my-life-and-life-of-my/)

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> [Vice is but a nurse of agonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/vice-is-but-a-nurse-of-agonies/)

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[Explore all 186 Philip Sidney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

## 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/)

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> [“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/)

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> [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/)

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[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/)

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> [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/)

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> [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/)

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