--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never had the ambition to be something…" description: "\"I never had the ambition to be something. I had the ambition to do something.\" — Walter Cronkite" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/walter-cronkite-1759_ambition_i-never-had-the-ambition-to-be-something_2896363.png" --- # I never had the ambition to be something. I had the… ![“I never had the ambition to be something. I had the ambition to do something.” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/walter-cronkite-1759_ambition_i-never-had-the-ambition-to-be-something_2896363.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/walter-cronkite-1759_ambition_i-never-had-the-ambition-to-be-something_2896363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/walter-cronkite-1759_ambition_i-never-had-the-ambition-to-be-something_2896363.png) > “I never had the ambition to be something. I had the ambition to do something.” [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition should focus on actions, not titles or identities. **In simple terms:** Aim to act, not just be. Key Takeaway Prioritize deeds. Themes action ambition purpose Mood motivational reflective Type journalistic inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - volunteering - personal growth Key Concepts ethics motivation Questions to Reflect On - What actions define your purpose? - How do you measure impact? A Different Perspective Action without direction can be futile. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-ambition-2565491/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [“Despite his mellow, Zen-like demeanor, the appearance of that bookcase betrayed an urgency. A hunger. This thing meant something to him. Of course I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gefter/despite-his-mellow-zen-like-demeanor-the-appearance-of-that-bookcase/) [Amanda Gefter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gefter/) > [Don’t get depressed about not being where you want to be. This nagging feeling of anxiety is actually called ambition. Ambition is your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atom-egoyan/don-t-get-depressed-about-not-being-where-you-want-to-be-this-nagging/) [Atom Egoyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atom-egoyan/) > ['Intensity' is a good word. It's like ambition, if it's not ambition at expense of someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/intensity-is-a-good-word-it-s-like-ambition-if-it-s-not-ambition-at/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [The family gives you ambition, and ambition is one of the hindrances for enlightenment. It gives you desires, it gives you a longing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-family-gives-you-ambition-and-ambition-is-one-of-the-hindrances/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [A man shrinks or expands into the degree and nature of his ambition. Ambition needs to be cultivated and refined, and yet has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/a-man-shrinks-or-expands-into-the-degree-and-nature-of-his-ambition/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [I don't know many ambition- ridden people who really enjoy themselves. Even success doesn't seem to still the insatiable, gnawing hunger of their ambition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-don-t-know-many-ambition-ridden-people-who-really-enjoy-themselves/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [I have an ambition to live 300 years. I will not live 300 years. Maybe I will live one year more. But I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-have-an-ambition-to-live-300-years-i-will-not-live-300-years-maybe/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [The philosophy I shared... was one of ambition - ambition to succeed, ambition to grow, ambition to move forward - backed up by hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lowy/the-philosophy-i-shared-was-one-of-ambition-ambition-to-succeed/) [Frank Lowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lowy/) > [We must distinguish between felicity and prosperity; for prosperity leads often to ambition, and ambition to disappointment; the course is then over, the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/we-must-distinguish-between-felicity-and-prosperity-for-prosperity/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [“Success becomes lighter to carry when it is built on alignment rather than ambition alone. Ambition pushes; alignment pulls. One exhausts you, the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itayi-garande/success-becomes-lighter-to-carry-when-it-is-built-on-alignment-rather/) [Itayi Garande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itayi-garande/) > [A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted that riches, office, fortune and favor cannot satisfy him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-wise-man-is-cured-of-ambition-by-ambition-itself-his-aim-is-so/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“If you cannot think of solutions that are discarded as a result of the specified ambition, the ambition is not clear enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-haastrecht/if-you-cannot-think-of-solutions-that-are-discarded-as-a-result-of/) [Rob Van Haastrecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-haastrecht/) > [The whole society depends on creating ambition in you. Ambition means a conflict, ambition means that whatsoever you are, you are wrong - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-whole-society-depends-on-creating-ambition-in-you-ambition-means/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“One cultivates one's life, one's friends, one's means, one's hopes. One goes from place to place, from triumph to triumph, in search of ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ball/one-cultivates-one-s-life-one-s-friends-one-s-means-one-s-hopes-one/) [Jesse Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ball/) > [Each child is poisoned by the society through teaching him ambition. Ambition is a poison far more dangerous than any alcohol can ever be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/each-child-is-poisoned-by-the-society-through-teaching-him-ambition/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More by Walter Cronkite > [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I've gone from the most trusted man in America to one of the most debated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-ve-gone-from-the-most-trusted-man-in-america-to-one-of-the-most/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Be kind to an old man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/be-kind-to-an-old-man/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I learned early on that in the real world, the masks of tragedy and comedy adorn the proscenium of every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-learned-early-on-that-in-the-real-world-the-masks-of-tragedy-and/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [It is clear that military force and our policy of preemption are alone insufficient to make us safe. But help is on the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-clear-that-military-force-and-our-policy-of-preemption-are/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I think people make way too much of ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-people-make-way-too-much-of-ratings/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I grew my mustache when I was nineteen in order to look older. I never shaved it off even though it overran its usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-grew-my-mustache-when-i-was-nineteen-in-order-to-look-older-i-never/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I'm so tired of stories starting, 'Maud Jones was walking her dog down Broadway.' You've got to go over to the back page somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-so-tired-of-stories-starting-maud-jones-was-walking-her-dog-down/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [All through my life, I have never disguised my sentiments about politics in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/all-through-my-life-i-have-never-disguised-my-sentiments-about/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The battle for the airwaves cannot be limited to only those who have the bank accounts to pay for the battle and win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-battle-for-the-airwaves-cannot-be-limited-to-only-those-who-have/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The successful landing on the moon, very probably, is the best story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-successful-landing-on-the-moon-very-probably-is-the-best-story/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [If, as they say, the threat of the hangman's noose has a powerful way of focusing one's attention, the same can be said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-as-they-say-the-threat-of-the-hangman-s-noose-has-a-powerful-way/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [We must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a World Government, patterned after our Own Government with a legislature, executive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-must-strengthen-the-united-nations-as-a-first-step-toward-a-world/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) [Explore all 210 Walter Cronkite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## 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": "I never had the ambition to be something. 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