William Shakespeare Quotes About Ambition

• The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.

  William Shakespeare

  Inspirational, Dream, Ambition

  William Shakespeare (2001). “Hamlet”, p.155, Classic Books Company

• Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Stuff, Ides Of March

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 2, l. [97]

• Ambition, the soldier's virtue.

  William Shakespeare

  Military, Ambition, Soldier

  William Shakespeare, David Bevington (1990). “Antony and Cleopatra”, p.153, Cambridge University Press

• Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other side

  William Shakespeare

  Fall, Ambition, Lady Macbeth

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 7, l. 16

• 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

  Ambition, Clouds, Looks

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 2, sc. 1, l. 21

• 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.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Men, Ambitious

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 2, l. [97]

• As he was valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.

  William Shakespeare

  Funny, Life, Ambition

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 2, l. [27]

• Dreams, indeed, are ambition; for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. And I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.

  William Shakespeare

  Dream, Ambition, Light

  William Shakespeare (2001). “Hamlet”, p.155, Classic Books Company

• Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Virtue, Foul

  William Shakespeare (1833). “The plays and poems of William Shakspeare”, p.474

• Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
  Farewell the plumed troops, and the big wars
  That make ambition virtue.

  William Shakespeare

  War, Farewell, Ambition

  'Othello' (1602-4) act 3, sc. 3, l. 346

• Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win.

  William Shakespeare

  Art, Nature, Kindness

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 5, l. [16]

• Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up Thine own life's means!

  William Shakespeare

  Life, Ambition, Mean

  William Shakespeare (2001). “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, p.131, Classic Books Company

• Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars
  That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!
  Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,
  The spirit-stirring drum, th' ear-piercing fife,
  The royal banner, and all quality,
  Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!

  William Shakespeare

  War, Farewell, Ambition

  'Othello' (1602-4) act 3, sc. 3, l. 346

• Who soars too near the sun, with golden wings, melts them.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Wings, Golden

  William Shakespeare, Samuel Johnson, George Steevens, Isaac Reed, William Hazlitt (1852). “The Works of William Shakspeare”, p.190

• Flesh and blood,
  You, brother mine, that entertain'd ambition,
  Expell'd remorse and nature, who, with Sebastian-
  Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong-
  Would here have kill'd your king, I do forgive thee,
  Unnatural though thou art.

  William Shakespeare

  Art, Strong, Brother

  William Shakespeare (1867). “The Works of William Shakespeare”, p.18

• Ambition, the soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss, than gain which darkens him.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Loss, Choices

  William Shakespeare (1826). “Plays of William Shakespeare”, p.741

• Pride went before, ambition follows him.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Pride

  William Shakespeare, James Boswell, Alexander Pope, Richard Farmer, Samuel Johnson (1821). “The Plays and Poems of William Shakspeare”, p.175

• Ambition's debt is paid.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Debt, Paid

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 1, l. 83

• Love and meekness, lord,
  Become a churchman better than ambition:
  Win straying souls with modesty again,
  Cast none away.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Winning, Soul

  William Shakespeare (2013). “Making Sense of Henry VIII! a Students Guide to Shakespeare's Play (Includes Study Guide, Biography, and Modern Retelling)”, p.237, BookCaps Study Guides

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