--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ive been asked about ambition before and…" description: "\"Ive been asked about ambition before and I dont feel that ambitious because I started so young and it was very fun. Both Natalie Portman and I started ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and_452396.jpg" --- # Ive been asked about ambition before and I dont feel that… ![“Ive been asked about ambition before and I dont feel that ambitious because I started so young and it was very fun. Both Natalie Portman and I started so young and we didnt really have to go and pound the pavement that much, we dont have that innate ambition of people that start later in their…” quote by Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and_452396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and_452396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and_452396.jpg) > “Ive been asked about ambition before and I dont feel that ambitious because I started so young and it was very fun. Both Natalie Portman and I started so young and we didnt really have to go and pound the pavement that much, we dont have that innate ambition of people that start later in their careers.” [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. Early starters often feel less driven because they achieve success without intense struggle, contrasting with later starters who must work harder. **In simple terms:** Early success can reduce perceived ambition. Key Takeaway Recognize that ambition can be cultivated at any stage. Themes career ambition early success motivation self-perception Mood reflective thoughtful analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - mentorship - goal setting Key Concepts growth mindset intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation social comparison Questions to Reflect On - How can you reignite drive after early achievements? - Do you equate effort with ambition? A Different Perspective Ambition may still be needed for long‑term growth despite early ease. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [I remember once Robert Taylor invited me to lunch. I asked him, 'What is your ambition?' He said, 'I want to have 10 very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luise-rainer/i-remember-once-robert-taylor-invited-me-to-lunch-i-asked-him-what-is/) [Luise Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luise-rainer/) > [“When I was young," wrote Jim, "my ambition was to be one of the people who makes a difference in this world. My hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jay-jones/when-i-was-young-wrote-jim-my-ambition-was-to-be-one-of-the-people/) [Brian Jay Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jay-jones/) > [When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/when-i-was-young-my-ambition-was-to-be-one-of-the-people-who-made-a/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [I was never afraid of my ambition - other people have been. I feel like it's been received at different times as if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/i-was-never-afraid-of-my-ambition-other-people-have-been-i-feel-like/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) > [A distaste for the new is not always fear of the unknown, but sometimes ambition. Some people don't like the new way simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/a-distaste-for-the-new-is-not-always-fear-of-the-unknown-but/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [It's an ugly thing to see ambition and to see people satisfying themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-weiner/it-s-an-ugly-thing-to-see-ambition-and-to-see-people-satisfying/) [Matthew Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-weiner/) > [How do you whip up resentment against absentee landlords and pocketers of bribes when the highest ambition of the people is either to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/how-do-you-whip-up-resentment-against-absentee-landlords-and/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [When I was growing up, I said I wanted to be a model, but people said I had no chance and when I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-price/when-i-was-growing-up-i-said-i-wanted-to-be-a-model-but-people-said-i/) [Katie Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-price/) > [We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-need-to-steer-clear-of-this-poverty-of-ambition-where-people-want/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One of the things that's troubling is that people see Natalie Portman or some other Hollywood starlet who boasts of, hey look, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-holmes/one-of-the-things-that-s-troubling-is-that-people-see-natalie-portman/) [Anna Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-holmes/) > [I really like Natalie Portman. She went to college, and she's still in the film industry, making good choices in her career. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annasophia-robb/i-really-like-natalie-portman-she-went-to-college-and-she-s-still-in/) [AnnaSophia Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annasophia-robb/) > [I launched Ballet Beautiful not long after finishing at Columbia and met Natalie Portman shortly after. We began training and preparing her for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-bowers/i-launched-ballet-beautiful-not-long-after-finishing-at-columbia-and/) [Mary Helen Bowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-helen-bowers/) > [I'm going to try to pull a Natalie Portman. Natalie went to Harvard while shooting 'Star Wars'. I don't know how she did it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-m-going-to-try-to-pull-a-natalie-portman-natalie-went-to-harvard/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [My only real daydreamy casting over the years has been Natalie Portman for Denna. She's an amazing actress, and Denna is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/my-only-real-daydreamy-casting-over-the-years-has-been-natalie/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I hate the stereotype of the pitfalls of the child actor. There are so many amazing examples - Natalie Portman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jodie Foster,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bell/i-hate-the-stereotype-of-the-pitfalls-of-the-child-actor-there-are-so/) [Jamie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bell/) ## 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": "Ive been asked about ambition before and I dont feel that ambitious because I started so young and it was very fun. Both Natalie Portman and I started so young and we didnt really have to go and pound the pavement that much, we dont have that innate ambition of people that start later in their careers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Winona Ryder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and-i-dont-feel-that-ambitious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and-i-dont-feel-that-ambitious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and_452396.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and_452396.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/winona-ryder-1469_ambition_ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and_452396.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ive been asked about ambition before and I dont feel that ambitious because I started so young and it was…” — Winona Ryder", "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": "Winona Ryder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ive been asked about ambition before...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and-i-dont-feel-that-ambitious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/ive-been-asked-about-ambition-before-and-i-dont-feel-that-ambitious/#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 } } ] } ```