--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But 'tis common proof, that lowliness is…" description: "\"But 'tis common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's ladder, whereto the climber-upward turns his face; but when he once attains the upmost round,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-y_2759871.jpg" --- # But 'tis common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's… ![“But 'tis common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's ladder, whereto the climber-upward turns his face; but when he once attains the upmost round, he then turns his back, looks in the clouds, scorning the vase defrees by which he did ascend.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-y_2759871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-y_2759871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-y_2759871.jpg) > “But 'tis common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's ladder, whereto the climber-upward turns his face; but when he once attains the upmost round, he then turns his back, looks in the clouds, scorning the vase defrees by which he did ascend.” [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 begins with humility, but once achieved, people often become disdainful of their origins. **In simple terms:** Success can make people forget their humble beginnings. Key Takeaway Stay grounded despite success. Themes ambition humility pride Mood reflective cautionary Type literary moral When to use this quote - political satire - personal reflection Key Concepts Social mobility personal growth power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice this shift in yourself? - How can humility be preserved? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all ambition follows this pattern. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Climber Upward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climber-upward-3161316/) [Climbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbers/) [Clouds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds/) [Clouds Scorning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds-scorning-3161317/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Ladders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladders/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Lowliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowliness/) [Lowliness Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowliness-young-3161315/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Scorning Vase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scorning-vase-3161318/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Vases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vases/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [The king-becoming graces, As justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them, but abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-king-becoming-graces-as-justice-verity-temp-rance-stableness/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A man who hates the passion cuts off their causes. But a man who remains among their causes experiences even against his will the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/a-man-who-hates-the-passion-cuts-off-their-causes-but-a-man-who/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [The best soldiers are not warlike; the best fighters do not lose their temper. The greatest conquerors are those who overcome their enemies without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-best-soldiers-are-not-warlike-the-best-fighters-do-not-lose-their/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Therefore the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must by his words put himself below them; wishing to be before the people, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/therefore-the-sage-wishing-to-be-above-the-people-must-by-his-words/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He who, conscious of being strong, is content to be weak, he shall be the paragon of mankind. Being the paragon of mankind, Virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-conscious-of-being-strong-is-content-to-be-weak-he-shall-be/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Gentleness brings victory to him who attacks, and safety to him who defends. Those whom Heaven would save, it fences round with gentleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/gentleness-brings-victory-to-him-who-attacks-and-safety-to-him-who/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is no love of God without patience, and no patience without lowliness and sweetness of spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/there-is-no-love-of-god-without-patience-and-no-patience-without/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [Yet it seems to me finishing well in this life is not so much about who is the best or greatest at something, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-lewis/yet-it-seems-to-me-finishing-well-in-this-life-is-not-so-much-about/) [Beverly Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-lewis/) > [a connotation of infinity sharpens the temporal splendor of this night when souls which have forgot frivolity in lowliness,noting the fatal flight of worlds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-connotation-of-infinity-sharpens-the-temporal-splendor-of-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is power born of humility . . . Humility, in business and in life, is a powerful asset and does not denote lowliness, unimportance, or self-deprecation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/there-is-power-born-of-humility-humility-in-business-and-in-life-is-a/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“Just because God is God, just because Christ is Christ, they cannot do other than care for us and bless us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/just-because-god-is-god-just-because-christ-is-christ-they-cannot-do/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [He who is great must make humility his base. He who is high must make lowliness his foundation. Thus, princes and kings in speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-is-great-must-make-humility-his-base-he-who-is-high-must-make/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken-hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/a-truly-christian-love-either-to-god-or-men-is-a-humble-broken/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [What makes a kingdom great is its being like a down-flowing river,--the central point towards which all the smaller streams under Heaven converge; or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-makes-a-kingdom-great-is-its-being-like-a-down-flowing-river-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-that-humbles-himself-shall-be-preserved-entire-he-that-bends-shall/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## 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": "But 'tis common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's ladder, whereto the climber-upward turns his face; but when he once attains the upmost round, he then turns his back, looks in the clouds, scorning the vase defrees by which he did ascend.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-young-ambition-s-ladder/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-young-ambition-s-ladder/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-y_2759871.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-y_2759871.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/william-shakespeare-4_ambition_but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-y_2759871.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But 'tis common proof, that lowliness is young ambition's ladder, whereto the climber-upward turns his face…” — 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": "But 'tis common proof, that lowliness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-young-ambition-s-ladder/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-tis-common-proof-that-lowliness-is-young-ambition-s-ladder/#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 } } ] } ```