--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the difference between me and…" description: "\"I think the difference between me and some of the other YBAs [Young British Artists] was that I was ambitious for the work, and not ambitious for mysel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/rachel-whiteread-75565_ambitious_i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-so_1347532.jpg" --- # I think the difference between me and some of the other… ![“I think the difference between me and some of the other YBAs [Young British Artists] was that I was ambitious for the work, and not ambitious for myself.” quote by Rachel Whiteread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/rachel-whiteread-75565_ambitious_i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-so_1347532.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/rachel-whiteread-75565_ambitious_i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-so_1347532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/rachel-whiteread-75565_ambitious_i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-so_1347532.jpg) > “I think the difference between me and some of the other YBAs \[Young British Artists\] was that I was ambitious for the work, and not ambitious for myself.” [Rachel Whiteread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-whiteread/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She distinguishes her ambition as focused on creating art itself, rather than seeking personal fame or self‑promotion. **In simple terms:** Art‑first ambition, not self‑promotion. Key Takeaway Prioritize work over ego. Themes art ambition humility authenticity career Mood thoughtful inspirational analytical Type professional philosophical conversational When to use this quote - gallery shows - artist residencies - career planning - self‑assessment Key Concepts creative integrity self‑effacement artist’s purpose Questions to Reflect On - What does ambition look like for you? - How do you balance personal growth with artistic integrity? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for self‑advocacy in a competitive field. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Ambitious Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious-work-2486361/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists-ambitious-4571887/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ambitious-4571888/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-british-1778765/) ## Related quotes > [Traditionally women have been more reticent to acknowledge their ambition and to say it with pride. So I like having people who work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivanka-trump/traditionally-women-have-been-more-reticent-to-acknowledge-their/) [Ivanka Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivanka-trump/) > [That's one of the good things about a lot of the young British bands, they are mixing all styles of music. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/that-s-one-of-the-good-things-about-a-lot-of-the-young-british-bands/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [Truth and Truthfulness is an ambitious work, and its journeys into history give it a breadth unusual in these days of increased academic specialization.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/truth-and-truthfulness-is-an-ambitious-work-and-its-journeys-into/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [I'm enthusiastic and ambitious, and I work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/i-m-enthusiastic-and-ambitious-and-i-work-hard/) [Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/) > [I grew up with champions around me, so I knew what it was like to be ambitious and to work very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-fournier/i-grew-up-with-champions-around-me-so-i-knew-what-it-was-like-to-be/) [Evan Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-fournier/) > [I'm ambitious. I work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/i-m-ambitious-i-work-hard/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [At the other end of the scale I was there with a whole lot of young British athletes so I was getting to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-douglas/at-the-other-end-of-the-scale-i-was-there-with-a-whole-lot-of-young/) [Jill Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-douglas/) > [I think that young British designers have a kind of fearlessness in they way they approach fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monika-chiang/i-think-that-young-british-designers-have-a-kind-of-fearlessness-in/) [Monika Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monika-chiang/) > [I thought, If people are going to write about what I'm wearing, then I would wear young British designers who need the publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-thought-if-people-are-going-to-write-about-what-i-m-wearing-then-i/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [The young British players need to take responsibility themselves for their form and ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-henman/the-young-british-players-need-to-take-responsibility-themselves-for/) [Tim Henman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-henman/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [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 want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [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/) ## More by Rachel Whiteread > [I don't want to make plop art — sculpture that just gets plopped down in places. I wouldn't want to litter every corner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-whiteread/i-don-t-want-to-make-plop-art-sculpture-that-just-gets-plopped-down/) [Rachel Whiteread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-whiteread/) > [When I visited concentration camps, I was more interested in how people responded to the camps than in the actual places. I watched kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-whiteread/when-i-visited-concentration-camps-i-was-more-interested-in-how/) [Rachel Whiteread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-whiteread/) [Explore all 3 Rachel Whiteread quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-whiteread/) ## More Ambitious quotes > [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 want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [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/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the difference between me and some of the other YBAs [Young British Artists] was that I was ambitious for the work, and not ambitious for myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachel Whiteread" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-whiteread/i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-some-of-the-other-ybas-young/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambitious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-whiteread/i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-some-of-the-other-ybas-young/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/rachel-whiteread-75565_ambitious_i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-so_1347532.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/rachel-whiteread-75565_ambitious_i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-so_1347532.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/rachel-whiteread-75565_ambitious_i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-so_1347532.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the difference between me and some of the other YBAs [Young British Artists] was that I was…” — Rachel Whiteread", "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": "Rachel Whiteread", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-whiteread/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the difference between me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-whiteread/i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-some-of-the-other-ybas-young/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-whiteread/i-think-the-difference-between-me-and-some-of-the-other-ybas-young/#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 } } ] } ```