Is ambition a virtue?

[Ben Kenobi]

I've been wanting to start a thread on this for some time. I can see why people would want to be ambitious, to strive for a better job, bigger house, and all that, but where does it get you? What good is it to work so hard for these things and then be unable to enjoy them? Wouldn't it be better to take a step back and give up some of these things to enjoy these pleasures while you can?

I'm curious as to what everyone else thinks.

[St Leo]

No, ambition is stupid.

[Drake Tungsten]

Depends. A healthy amount of ambition is a good thing. Unchecked ambition that makes you do things that are morally wrong in your quest for success is not.

[Gibsie]

Is purple a fruit?

[Dis]

yes! but I don't possess it

[Dis]

Re: Is ambition a virtue?

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
I've been wanting to start a thread on this for some time. I can see why people would want to be ambitious, to strive for a better job, bigger house, and all that, but where does it get you? What good is it to work so hard for these things and then be unable to enjoy them? Wouldn't it be better to take a step back and give up some of these things to enjoy these pleasures while you can?

I'm curious as to what everyone else thinks.

it seems useless in the modern age because of stress and all that. But Would we have all the inventions we have today without ambition? electricity, automobiles, indoor plumbing.

ambition

[Ben Kenobi]

A healthy amount of ambition is a good thing.

So what do you consider a healthy amount of ambition?

[Ben Kenobi]

Would we have all the inventions we have today without ambition? electricity, automobiles, indoor plumbing.

Can you name the inventors of these? Seems to me most of these folks did these things not for personal glory, but for the betterment of others. Can this really be seen as ambitious, if you don't take the credit for the work?

[Dis]

trust me, they did it for personal glory.

[mrmitchell]

Yes! Ambition is healthy and helps one strive for a better life.

The only point where it becomes unhealthy is when it is as strong as to make you do morally wrong things.

[Dis]

or severely ruin your health (although some risk of health is sometimes needed for certain professions as in astronauts and such)

[asleepathewheel]

Why exist if you don't want to be the best at everything? I accept that I fall short in areas, but I'm young, and I expect to improve. Maybe I won't get to the top. Pretty likely. But why not try? Why live a life where you're continually mailing it in? Luckily I'm in a profession (law) that rewards excellence, so the harder I work the better I am. If I had an Office Space job, then I can see not giving a rat's ass about anything.

Ambition does need to be checked, an out of control ego is dangerous. A little moral backbone and perspective and you'll be ok.

[Skanky Burns]

Ambition = going after the goals you have set yourself. This is generally good. The goals you set for yourself are where potential problems lay, though.

If you measure your success by money alone, then you will most likely end up rich. Unhappy, but rich.

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Ambition = going after the goals you have set yourself. This is generally good. The goals you set for yourself are where potential problems lay, though.

If you measure your success by money alone, then you will most likely end up rich. Unhappy, but rich.

[monolith94]

There are different types of ambition. I have no respect for an artist without any ambition at all.