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ambition- good or bad?

"Lewis"

Registered User
Ambition is one of the human characteristics that leads us to war, just as it could as easily lead us to progress in a competitive market, creating jobs and a good cash flow. Everything has 2 sides. So, if you're for it, you support the aggression it creates, but if you're against it, you're against human progress and intuition.
 

PeterLT

Premium Member
A lack of ambition usually results in stagnation and want. Ambition is not always a cause of aggression and even if it is, it's not always a bad thing. To be desirous to be free is an ambition to many, even today. Ambition is not the problem, it is the execution that gets us in trouble. Is a bank robber less ambitious than an entrepreneur? Was Lenin less ambitious than Benjamin Franklin?
 

Benton

Premium Member
I think I would also add if ambition leads to pride, it could be a negative attribute. Being proud of an accomplishment is one thing, but being prideful tends to lead to conceit, etc. So I think ambition to improve ourselves as Masons, fathers, husbands, employees, or employers, those sorts of things, is great and worthy of praise. So long as it doesn't lead to a prideful attitude that might lack in humility.
 

PeterLT

Premium Member
I think I would also add if ambition leads to pride, it could be a negative attribute. Being proud of an accomplishment is one thing, but being prideful tends to lead to conceit, etc. So I think ambition to improve ourselves as Masons, fathers, husbands, employees, or employers, those sorts of things, is great and worthy of praise. So long as it doesn't lead to a prideful attitude that might lack in humility.

Well put and a reason why many of history's greats have fallen in shame. It's always a good idea to keep one's feet firmly on the ground.
 
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