§ 5. Ambition, the System of Desire. When a man's desires are organised in subordination to his self, with the system of its purposes, they constitute his ambition. A man's ambition is simply the system of his desires and purposes. Nothing organises a life so effectively and worthily as a noble ambition. If we wish for an example of the systematising power of a great ambition, we need only look at the way in which all St. Paul's activities and desires were organised in accordance with his noble ambition. A worthy ambition is within the reach of all. Every child should be encouraged to form a worthy ambition: every one should be reminded that there is some position in life, however humble, which he will fill, and that his vocation consists in performing faithfully the duties of his station in society. It should be his ambition to organise all his desires and consecrate all his energies to the service of his vocation.
For further reading: T. Loveday and J. A. Green: Introduction to Psychology, ch. vi.; J. S. Mackenzie: Manual of Ethics, bk. i. ch. i.; A. F. Shand: Foundations of Character, bk. iii.; T. H. Green: Prolegomena to Ethics, §§ 118-129.
