--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The unambitious sluggard pretends that…" description: "\"The unambitious sluggard pretends that the eminence is not worth attaining, declines altogether the struggle, and calls himself a philosopher. I say he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_coward_the-unambitious-sluggard-pretends-that-t_2647354.jpg" --- # The unambitious sluggard pretends that the eminence is not… ![“The unambitious sluggard pretends that the eminence is not worth attaining, declines altogether the struggle, and calls himself a philosopher. I say he is a poor-spirited coward.” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_coward_the-unambitious-sluggard-pretends-that-t_2647354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_coward_the-unambitious-sluggard-pretends-that-t_2647354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_coward_the-unambitious-sluggard-pretends-that-t_2647354.jpg) > “The unambitious sluggard pretends that the eminence is not worth attaining, declines altogether the struggle, and calls himself a philosopher. I say he is a poor-spirited coward.” [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lazy person avoids effort, pretends greatness is unattainable, and falsely claims philosophical depth, revealing cowardice. **In simple terms:** Avoiding work and pretending to be wise shows fear. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront laziness. Themes laziness pretension cowardice Mood critical reflective Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - career advancement - academic pursuits - personal growth - public speaking Key Concepts philosophy self‑deception social status Questions to Reflect On - What effort are you avoiding? - How does pretending to be wise hinder you? A Different Perspective Such self‑deception can be rationalized as humility, masking true motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Spirited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirited/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [It is no slight testimonial, both to the merit and worth of Christianity, that in all ages since its promulgation the great mass of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/it-is-no-slight-testimonial-both-to-the-merit-and-worth-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [In conclusion I congratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the high state of prosperity to which the goodness of Divine Providence has conducted our common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/in-conclusion-i-congratulate-you-my-fellow-citizens-upon-the-high/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) > [There is a form of eminence which does not depend on fate; it is an air which sets us apart and seems to prtend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/there-is-a-form-of-eminence-which-does-not-depend-on-fate-it-is-an/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [An incessant change of means to attain unalterable ends is always going on; we must take care not to let these sundry means undo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/an-incessant-change-of-means-to-attain-unalterable-ends-is-always/) [George S. 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The Heroine will run through the dark, even though she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-cleinman/the-coward-will-run-away-from-danger-only-to-strike-in-the-dark-the/) David A. Cleinman > [“A thousand times a coward and not once a dead man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suad-amiry/a-thousand-times-a-coward-and-not-once-a-dead-man/) Suad Amiry > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“It is true that only a coward can be brave, as a man who feels no fear has conquered nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-david-iggulden/it-is-true-that-only-a-coward-can-be-brave-as-a-man-who-feels-no-fear/) Conn & David Iggulden > [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. 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