“Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.”
- October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962
- American
- First Lady of the United States, Diplomat, Human Rights Advocate, Chair of the UN Human Rights Commission
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Quote
“Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.”
Explanation
In this quote, Eleanor Roosevelt offers a sharp critique of unchecked ambition, portraying it as a force that is ruthless and utilitarian. She suggests that ambition, when driven solely by self-interest or power, values others only for their usefulness, and dismisses any qualities or virtues that don’t serve its goals. Merit without utility is not merely ignored—it is scorned, revealing ambition’s lack of moral discernment.
Roosevelt understood ambition intimately—both its potential and its dangers. As someone deeply involved in politics and advocacy, she witnessed how ambition could inspire greatness or corrode ethics, depending on whether it was guided by conscience. Her quote warns against ambition that has lost its sense of humanity, reducing people to tools and virtues to commodities.
In today’s competitive world, where success is often measured by visibility and advantage, this quote reminds us to temper ambition with values, and to recognize worth beyond usefulness. Roosevelt’s insight calls for a vision of leadership and aspiration rooted in respect and principle, not merely in the pursuit of gain. Without compassion, ambition becomes not a strength, but a corrosive force.
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