--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember the whole thing with the word…" description: "\"I remember the whole thing with the word ambition. I was messed up for a while because I associated it with certain people who just want to be famous. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_i-remember-the-whole-thing-with-the-word_1074421.jpg" --- # I remember the whole thing with the word ambition. I was… ![“I remember the whole thing with the word ambition. I was messed up for a while because I associated it with certain people who just want to be famous. I think, for a while, it was kind of a dirty word for women.” quote by Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_i-remember-the-whole-thing-with-the-word_1074421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_i-remember-the-whole-thing-with-the-word_1074421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_i-remember-the-whole-thing-with-the-word_1074421.jpg) > “I remember the whole thing with the word ambition. I was messed up for a while because I associated it with certain people who just want to be famous. I think, for a while, it was kind of a dirty word for women.” [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition can be perceived negatively, especially for women, when linked to fame or stereotyped expectations. **In simple terms:** Ambition is sometimes seen as a bad word for women. Key Takeaway Reframe ambition as personal growth. Themes gender bias ambition societal expectations Mood critical inspirational Type personal societal When to use this quote - workplace goals - creative pursuits - public image - personal empowerment Key Concepts feminism identity career development Questions to Reflect On - How does gender shape your view of ambition? - Can ambition be decoupled from fame? A Different Perspective Ambition isn’t inherently negative; context and framing matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Messed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-messed-2692985/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty/) [Dirty Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-word/) [Dirty words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-words/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Messed up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messed-up/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Word Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-ambition-2692984/) [Word Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-women-1055099/) ## Related quotes > [There’s always a stigma attached to the word ‘ambition’ and women. I’ve embraced it. Ambition is NOT a four-letter word and women have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-burch/there-s-always-a-stigma-attached-to-the-word-ambition-and-women-i-ve/) [Tory Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-burch/) > [“Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/prejudice-a-dirty-word-and-faith-a-clean-one-have-something-in-common/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Marijuana is rejected all over the world. Damned. In England heroin is alright for out-patents, but marijuana? They'll put your ass in jail. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/marijuana-is-rejected-all-over-the-world-damned-in-england-heroin-is/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) > [Reductionism is a dirty word, and a kind of 'holistier than thou' self-righteousness has become fashionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/reductionism-is-a-dirty-word-and-a-kind-of-holistier-than-thou-self/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [A dirty word in the film business right now is intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-caruso/a-dirty-word-in-the-film-business-right-now-is-intelligence/) [David Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-caruso/) > [I think if we can't use the word feminist, if it's some kind of taboo or dirty word, or means you're ugly, or you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-think-if-we-can-t-use-the-word-feminist-if-it-s-some-kind-of-taboo/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Please make sure everyone knows how much their messages mean to me. They have added greatly to my peace of mind. I only wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cooper/please-make-sure-everyone-knows-how-much-their-messages-mean-to-me/) [Gary Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cooper/) > [Those who think profit is a dirty word should try to make one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/those-who-think-profit-is-a-dirty-word-should-try-to-make-one/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [In obstetrics and gynecology, the term abortionist is still a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thompson/in-obstetrics-and-gynecology-the-term-abortionist-is-still-a-dirty/) [Joe Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thompson/) > [It is a fitting irony that under Richard Nixon, 'launder' became a dirty word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/it-is-a-fitting-irony-that-under-richard-nixon-launder-became-a-dirty/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Well, I don't think Hollywood's a dirty word at all, I love a lot of Hollywood films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/well-i-don-t-think-hollywood-s-a-dirty-word-at-all-i-love-a-lot-of/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/busy-is-an-opportunity-not-a-dirty-word/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [I find myself, after all these years, with a built-in safety-brake that stops me from doing certain things. And one of the reasons why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-newton/i-find-myself-after-all-these-years-with-a-built-in-safety-brake-that/) [Helmut Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-newton/) > [Risk is not a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/risk-is-not-a-dirty-word/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > ["Pop" was a dirty word for a really long time and it feels like that's not the case anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-plapinger/pop-was-a-dirty-word-for-a-really-long-time-and-it-feels-like-that-s/) [Lizzy Plapinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-plapinger/) ## More by Winona Ryder > [It's also a question of finding good material and interesting roles. I'm not the only actress out there, and good parts just don't fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/it-s-also-a-question-of-finding-good-material-and-interesting-roles-i/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I was unusual looking - I didn't have the look of that time. If you look at 'Lucas' - and, basically, my first five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-was-unusual-looking-i-didn-t-have-the-look-of-that-time-if-you-look/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I definitely count my blessings. I feel like I've had such a great ride. Early on, to be able to work with some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-definitely-count-my-blessings-i-feel-like-i-ve-had-such-a-great/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [If a film is well made, then great, whatever it's about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/if-a-film-is-well-made-then-great-whatever-it-s-about/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Honestly, if it wasn't for 'Beetlejuice,' where would I be? That movie was a big thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/honestly-if-it-wasn-t-for-beetlejuice-where-would-i-be-that-movie-was/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [ I remember realizing, when I did Little Women \[1994\], that that was the only time girls that age were being written about. It was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-realizing-when-i-did-little-women-1994-that-that-was-the/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I remember when I first started being in magazines, I had pretty thin skin. I was this nerd that read books and stayed home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-when-i-first-started-being-in-magazines-i-had-pretty-thin/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [But I've always felt a need to have a life which is completely separate - at least as far as possible - from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/but-i-ve-always-felt-a-need-to-have-a-life-which-is-completely/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [“(My parents) had always instilled in me that it was way cooler to be an individual and to be unique and that you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/my-parents-had-always-instilled-in-me-that-it-was-way-cooler-to-be-an/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I was raised to believe that religion is a beautiful thing, but it's fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-was-raised-to-believe-that-religion-is-a-beautiful-thing-but-it-s/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [All we want is to be treated like human beings, and not to be patronized, or experimented on like guinea pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/all-we-want-is-to-be-treated-like-human-beings-and-not-to-be/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [With 'Ed Wood,' I sobbed. With 'Frankenweenie,' I was crying. With 'Edward Scissorhands,' I always cry. There's always an incredible amount of purity, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/with-ed-wood-i-sobbed-with-frankenweenie-i-was-crying-with-edward/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I love getting older. I think it has to do with always being the kid on set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-love-getting-older-i-think-it-has-to-do-with-always-being-the-kid/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I've always been super-private and protective of certain experiences and certain friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-ve-always-been-super-private-and-protective-of-certain-experiences/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Usually, the roles that you get offered that are the mom roles are very much the mom role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/usually-the-roles-that-you-get-offered-that-are-the-mom-roles-are/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) [Explore all 238 Winona Ryder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) ## 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 remember the whole thing with the word ambition. 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