The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hayes criticizes the public drive for promotion as a melancholy and insane desire.
- In plain terms
- Public life is sad because everyone is obsessed with getting promoted.
- What can you take from it?
- The constant chase for status harms public life.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is ambition always negative?
- How do you define success?
Another view
Ambition can also drive progress and achievement in public service.
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