--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather…" description: "\"Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss, than gain which darkens him.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-mak_3202542.jpg" --- # Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of… ![“Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss, than gain which darkens him.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-mak_3202542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-mak_3202542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-mak_3202542.jpg) > “Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss, than gain which darkens him.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition drives a soldier to prefer loss over gain, fearing that success will corrupt him. **In simple terms:** Ambition can make one fear success. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with humility. Themes ambition morality war self‑control Mood reflective serious Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - military leadership - career decisions - personal ambition Key Concepts philosophy ethics human nature Questions to Reflect On - What losses are you willing to accept for growth? - How does fear of success shape your choices? A Different Perspective Ambition can also motivate positive achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Ambition, the soldier's virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Who does i'the wars more than his captain can Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition, The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/who-does-i-the-wars-more-than-his-captain-can-becomes-his-captain-s/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“O God of battles, steel my soldier's hearts. Possess them not with fear. Take from them now The sense of reckoning ere th' opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-god-of-battles-steel-my-soldier-s-hearts-possess-them-not-with-fear/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-seen-the-day-of-wrong-through-the-little-hole-of-discretion/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord! O, wither'd is the garland of the war, The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-crown-o-the-earth-doth-melt-my-lord-o-wither-d-is-the-garland-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [That in the captains but a choleric word Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-in-the-captains-but-a-choleric-word-which-in-the-soldier-is-flat/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder, I gain'd my freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/gnawing-with-my-teeth-my-bonds-in-sunder-i-gain-d-my-freedom/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Who soars too near the sun, with golden wings, melts them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/who-soars-too-near-the-sun-with-golden-wings-melts-them/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I was acquainted once with a gallant soldier who assured me that his only measure of courage was this: upon the first fire, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/i-was-acquainted-once-with-a-gallant-soldier-who-assured-me-that-his/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/america-united-with-a-handful-of-troops-or-without-a-single-soldier/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Be merry; you have cause, so have we all, of joy; for our escape is much beyond our loss . . . . then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-merry-you-have-cause-so-have-we-all-of-joy-for-our-escape-is-much/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It was men's ambitions, they said, that had perverted all the arts to ends of gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/it-was-men-s-ambitions-they-said-that-had-perverted-all-the-arts-to/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [MY REGRETS ARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE I COULDN’T SAVE—Marines, soldiers, my buddies. I still feel their loss. I still ache for my failure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/my-regrets-are-about-the-people-i-couldn-t-save-marines-soldiers-my/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [In the hero stories, the call to go on a journey takes the form of a loss, an error, a wound, an unexplainable longing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-richo/in-the-hero-stories-the-call-to-go-on-a-journey-takes-the-form-of-a/) [David Richo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-richo/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## 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, the soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss, than gain which darkens him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-makes-choice-of-loss-than-gain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-makes-choice-of-loss-than-gain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-mak_3202542.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-mak_3202542.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-mak_3202542.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss, than gain which darkens him.” — William Shakespeare", "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": "William Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather makes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-makes-choice-of-loss-than-gain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ambition-the-soldier-s-virtue-rather-makes-choice-of-loss-than-gain/#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 } } ] } ```