Ambition and Success

by Orison Swett Marden

"Ambition is the spur that makes man struggle with destiny: it is heaven's own incentive to make purpose great, and achievement greater." IN a factory where mariners' compasses are made, the needles, before they are magnetized, will lie in any position, wherever they are placed, but from the moment they have been touched by the mighty magnet and have been electrified, they are never again the same. They have taken on a mysterious power and are new creatures. Before they are magnetized, they do not answer the call of the North Star, the magnetic pole does not have any effect upon them, but the moment they have been magnetized they 'swing to the magnetic north, and are ever after loyal and true to their affinity.' Multitudes of people, like an unmagnetized needle, lie motionless, unresponsive to any stimulus until they are touched by that mysterious force we call ambition. Whence comes this overmastering impulse which pushes human beings on, each to his individual goal? Where is the source of ambition, and how and when does it gain entrance into our lives? This book is about finding that ambition within you!

Genres: Self Help

ebook

First published May 26, 2006

About the author

Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924) was an American writer associated with the New Thought Movement. He also held a degree in medicine, and was a successful hotel owner.

Marden was born in Thornton Gore, New Hampshire to Lewis and Martha Marden. When he was three years old, his mother died at the age of 22, leaving Orison and his two sisters in the care of their father, a farmer, hunter, and trapper. When Orison was seven years old, his father died from injuries incurred while in the woods, and the children were shuttled from one guardian to another, with Orison working as a "hired boy" to earn his keep. Inspired by an early self-help book by the Scottish author Samuel Smiles, which he found in an attic, Marden set out to improve himself and his life circumstances. He persevered in advancing himself and graduated from Boston University in 1871. He later graduated from Harvard with an M.D. in 1881 and an LL.B. degree in 1882. He also studied at the Boston School of Oratory and Andover Theological Seminary.

Reviews

[Anastasija · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic self-help book exploring the power of ambition and its role in achieving success. It includes practical advice (in some instances outdated) and inspiring stories to motivate readers to pursue their goals and overcome obstacles.

If you’re looking for a timeless and inspiring book on ambition, this is a valuable choice, especially, the last chapter.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book teach us the importance of ambition and never being satisfied, for if you stop your insatisfied, then you are no longer human being. Its okay as motivation, but surely ambition and vision have a fundamental differences.

[Bill Swansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This is Napoleon Hill's inspiration. Well written, concise and impactful. Hard to put it down. I immediately ordered his full collection.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about retro/throwback stuff. (like someone put this thing together themselves) Still all good.

[Tariq · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a notion I have come to hear of recently in that there are very rarely any’ new’ ideas anymore. That all the ideas we so firmly believe in and know to be true have already been written and expressed in the wisdom of those who lived long ago. ‘New’ ideas are merely contemporary interpretations of those same principles, helpful but often ultimately unnecessary.

This is a book that makes me agree somewhat with the sentiment. 

This isn’t to say that the usual books of this kind are worthless, but that this book is a masterpiece which seems to speak directly to the reader. Don’t let the short length of the book fool you, on almost every page you will find thoughts and ideas worth taking the time to internalise. Swett Marden seems to be a master at this.

Marden proposes the idea that no matter what our circumstances, it is the amount of ambition and desire for wholesome success that is determinate in an individual’s life trajectory. He says that not only is ambition vital, but it is intrinsic to our human existence. Much like the seed that pushes against the encompassing soil and up towards the light, or the caterpillar that achieves its higher state as a butterfly, the desire to better ourselves and to push ever upwards in innate in us all. 

Some people are left restless until they achieve what was written in their Destiny, while others may abandon their dreams because they do not trust themselves. Others even still may strive but will not achieve any beneficial result due to the fact that their ends are anything but noble.

So not only is it upon us to strive for success, but we must define our success less in terms of material wealth and more in terms of our characters.

All in all, a fascinating book. One in which I ended up taking proportionally more highlights in than many similar, longer books.

Short, succinct and full of nutrients for both the mind and soul.

Don’t miss this masterpiece.