--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambition is a lust that is never…" description: "\"Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.\" — Thomas Otway" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/thomas-otway-16151_ambition_ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenche_1407511.png" --- # Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more… ![“Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.” quote by Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/thomas-otway-16151_ambition_ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenche_1407511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/thomas-otway-16151_ambition_ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenche_1407511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/thomas-otway-16151_ambition_ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenche_1407511.png) > “Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.” [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition is an unending desire that intensifies when satisfied, leading to restless excess. **In simple terms:** Ambition never satisfies, it fuels itself. Key Takeaway Recognize when ambition becomes self‑destructive. Themes ambition desire excess Mood restless intense Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - political power - personal goals Key Concepts human nature psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you chase goals for fulfillment or for the thrill? - How does satisfaction affect your drive? A Different Perspective Unchecked ambition can cause burnout and ethical compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-lust-2643053/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Grows Inflamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows-inflamed-4951397/) [Inflamed Madder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflamed-madder-4951396/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Lust Quenched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust-quenched-3379523/) ## Related quotes > [Ambition is a lust that's never quenched, Grows more inflated, and madder by enjoyment. - TOtway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ambition-is-a-lust-that-s-never-quenched-grows-more-inflated-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I've an insatiable craving inside me that consumes everything and makes me regard the sufferings and joys of others only in their relationship to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/i-ve-an-insatiable-craving-inside-me-that-consumes-everything-and/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [If men are discharged of reverence for ancient usage, they will treat this world, almost certainly, as if it were their private property, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/if-men-are-discharged-of-reverence-for-ancient-usage-they-will-treat/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [I'm always very fearful when academics get ahold of comedy. Comedy is such a clear thing - people laugh, or they don't laugh. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/i-m-always-very-fearful-when-academics-get-ahold-of-comedy-comedy-is/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [I think if you're too embroiled in the need to relate too closely to the character, then you start to judge the character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-if-you-re-too-embroiled-in-the-need-to-relate-too-closely-to/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Why does a man who is truly in love insist that this relationship must continue and be "lifelong"? Because life is pain and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/why-does-a-man-who-is-truly-in-love-insist-that-this-relationship/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [I filmed my first vlog and I think it worked because I wasn't trying to make it work. I was just doing it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobrik/i-filmed-my-first-vlog-and-i-think-it-worked-because-i-wasn-t-trying/) [David Dobrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobrik/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More by Thomas Otway > [Love reigns a very tyrant in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/love-reigns-a-very-tyrant-in-my-heart/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [No flattery, boy! an honest man cannot live by it; it is a little, sneaking art, which knaves use to cajole and soften fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/no-flattery-boy-an-honest-man-cannot-live-by-it-it-is-a-little/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [You wags that judge by rote, and damn by rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/you-wags-that-judge-by-rote-and-damn-by-rule/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Who's a prince or beggar in the grave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/who-s-a-prince-or-beggar-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [The poor sleep little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/the-poor-sleep-little/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [O woman! lovely woman! Nature made thee To temper man: we had been brutes without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/o-woman-lovely-woman-nature-made-thee-to-temper-man-we-had-been/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [And for an apple damn'd mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/and-for-an-apple-damn-d-mankind/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Children blessings seem, but torments are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/children-blessings-seem-but-torments-are/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Let us embrace, and from this very moment vow an eternal misery together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/let-us-embrace-and-from-this-very-moment-vow-an-eternal-misery/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [There is such sweet pain in parting that I could hang forever on thine arms, and look away my life into thine eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/there-is-such-sweet-pain-in-parting-that-i-could-hang-forever-on/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [If we must part for ever, Give me but one kind word to think upon, And please myself withal, whilst my heart's breaking!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/if-we-must-part-for-ever-give-me-but-one-kind-word-to-think-upon-and/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Greatness, thou gaudy torment of out souls, The wise man's fetter, and the rage of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/greatness-thou-gaudy-torment-of-out-souls-the-wise-man-s-fetter-and/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [And die with decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/and-die-with-decency/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Base natures ever judge a thing above them, and hate a power they are too much obliged to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/base-natures-ever-judge-a-thing-above-them-and-hate-a-power-they-are/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Oh woman! lovely woman! nature made thee To temper man; we had been brutes without you; Angels are painted fair to look like you;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/oh-woman-lovely-woman-nature-made-thee-to-temper-man-we-had-been/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) [Explore all 40 Thomas Otway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) ## 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": "Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Otway" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenched-but-grows-more-inflamed-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenched-but-grows-more-inflamed-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/thomas-otway-16151_ambition_ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenche_1407511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/thomas-otway-16151_ambition_ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenche_1407511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/thomas-otway-16151_ambition_ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenche_1407511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ambition is a lust that is never quenched, but grows more inflamed and madder by enjoyment.” — Thomas Otway", "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": "Thomas Otway", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ambition is a lust that is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenched-but-grows-more-inflamed-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/ambition-is-a-lust-that-is-never-quenched-but-grows-more-inflamed-and/#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 } } ] } ```