Ambition Quote by William Shakespeare
“When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1, 1599
Ambition can be noble or destructive; even honorable men may be driven by selfish desires.
In simple terms: Ambition can hide selfish motives even in good people.
Key Takeaway
Examine motives behind ambition.
Themes
ambition
honor
politics
human nature
motivation
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- personal ambition
Key Concepts
power struggles
ethical dilemmas
Questions to Reflect On
- What signs reveal hidden ambition?
- How do you differentiate noble from selfish ambition?
A Different Perspective
Ambition may be rationalized as virtue.
