Tag Archives: ambition

He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must fall with the greatest loss.

He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must fall with the greatest loss. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is an interesting quote, if only for the number of requirements needed to … Continue reading

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It is my fervent wish and my greatest ambition to leave a work with a few useful instructions for the pianists after me.

It is my fervent wish and my greatest ambition to leave a work with a few useful instructions for the pianists after me. – Franz Liszt What does that mean? This is a great quote, one that inspires us to leave … Continue reading

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Whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition.

Whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is sad, but true. There are times when people are forced to fight. The violence at that point is somewhat forgivable, … Continue reading

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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This quote a condensed version of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, tailored to match the ruthlessness … Continue reading

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Ambition is so powerful a passion in the heart, that however high we reach we are never satisfied.

Ambition is so powerful a passion in the heart, that however high we reach we are never satisfied. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? To me, this quote is a warning about an excess of ambition. The quote states that it … Continue reading

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Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer

Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer. – Niccolò Machiavelli What does that mean? This is a twitter-friendly excerpt  from a larger quote: “All courses of action are risky, … Continue reading

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