Unit Seven
The Virtues of Ambition
Contents
1.
 2.
 3.
 4.
 5.
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About the Author
Warming-up questions
The structure of the text
Detailed explanation of each part
Key to exercises
About Joseph Epstein
1937-
epstein@northwestern.edu
(847)491-3496
Information of the author
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Joseph Epstein, a noted essayist, short story author
and novelist,
born in Chicago and grew up in Rogers Park.
He then attended the University of Chicago and is now a
prominent member of the literature faculty at
Northwestern University.
He contributed essays in each issue under the moniker
Aristides..
He is a teacher in the acclaimed Creating Writing
Program at Northwestern University.
He won the 1998 Harold Washington Literary Award for
the most prominent man or women of letters in Chicago.
Warming-up Exercises:
1. What do you think about ambition
and ambitious people?
 2. What is the author’s attitude towards
ambition according to the title of the
essay the Virtues of Ambition?
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 3. What does virtue mean?
Good quality.
The Structure of the text
Part
 Part
 Part
 Part
 Part
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One ( para.1 to para3):
Two (para. 4 to para.5):
Three (para.6 to para.7):
Four (para.8 to para.11):
Five ( para.12 to para.13):
Paragraph 1
Paraphrase and Language Points:

Rorschach words: Rorschach inkblot test (罗
夏墨迹测验) created by Hermann Rorschach
(1844-1922, 瑞士精神病学家); a method of
testing a person’s brains and character by
making him say what various irregular spots
of ink remind him of
Paragraph 1 Discussion
What are the two different interpretations about
ambition and ambitious people?
1) (Webster’s) ambition is an ardent desire for
rank, fame and power
What does it mean?
It means that Ambition is incommensurate
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(inconsistent) with good sense and stability
2)One can be ambitious for the public good,
for the alleviation of suffering and for the
enlightenment of mankind
Explain:
…define it and you instantly reveal a great deal about
yourself.
…the way you personally define ambition will tell a
lot about yourself, your dreams, your desire,
your values, your philosophy, etc.
…if you define ambition, you will subconsciously
betray/reveal your dreams, your desire, your
values, your philosophy, etc.
Word study
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give oneself / someone away: to betray oneself
/someone; to tell people sth. secret
e.g. The swindler(欺诈者) gave himself
away when he was asked to establish his
identity.
She really likes him and thinks no one
knows, but the look on her face when
mentioned his name gave her away.
Please explain:

Ardent immediately assumes a heat
incommensurate with good sense and
stability, …

Ardent is immediately regarded as a
desire disproportionate to/inconsistent
with good sense and stability, …
 (Ardent is immediately thought of as
having something to do with bad sense.)
please explain:
be ambitious for the public good, for the
alleviation of suffering, for the enlightenment
of mankind,…
 strive to be successful, rich, powerful,
etc., in order to help the public, to ease
human suffering, to enlighten mankind...
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Paraphrase and Language Points:
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One can, after all, be ambitious for the public good,
for the alleviation of suffering, for the enlightenment
of mankind.
Despite distrust and doubt of ambition and
ambitious people, the fact is that one can strive to
be successful, rich powerful, etc. in order to help
the public, to ease human suffering, to enlighten
mankind.
 after all: despite problem and doubt, (the fact is …)
/ in spite of any indications or expectations to the
contrary e.g. Of course I admire her –after all, she
is a great politician.
Paragraph 2 Discussion
What do dreams of glory, wealth, love,
distinction, accomplishment, pleasure,
goodness come from?
 Ambition. No ambition, no dreams and
no accomplishment.

paraphrase
Surely ambition is behind dreams of glory, …
 Ambition makes possible dreams of
glory, …
 Ambition underlies dreams of glory, …
 Ambition is the true reason for dreams
of glory, …
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meaning of behind in the following sentences:
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I knew what behind her smile was sadness.
(hidden by)
Marie Curie was the woman behind enormous
changes in the science of chemistry.
(responsible for )
He wondered what was behind his neighbor’s
sudden friendliness.
(the true reason for)
We’re all behind you in this decision
(in support of )
Word study
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distinction
1)quality of excellence; honor, mark of respect
2) classification of two or more; a clear difference
between two similar things
e.g. He is a man of distinction in his own country.
(quality of excellence)
I had the great distinction of being invited to
speak at the conference.
(honor)
Do other countries have the same distinction
between amateur and professional?
(difference)
paraphrase
What life does with our dreams and
expectations cannot be predicted.
 What will actually happen to our
dreams and expectations during our
lives cannot be predicted.
 do with: get on with; have a connection
with

Paraphrase
The unpredictability of outcome of dreams is
no reason to cease dreaming.
 Although the outcome of dreams cannot
be predicted, one shouldn’t stop
dreaming.

Paragraph 3
What gives ambition bad name?
People who are selfish and seek to get
what they themselves want give ambition a
bad name.
Ambition, the sheer thing
 Sheer here is used for emphasis, and the
sheer thing means the simple, pure thing.
Paragraph 3 Please explain:
As drunks have done to alcohol, the singleminded have done to ambition---given it a
bad name.
 Jus as people who have had too much
alcohol have given alcohol a bad name,
so people who have had only one aim,
to get what they themselves want, have
given ambition a bad name.

please explain
Like a taste for alcohol, too, ambition does
not always allow for easy satiation.
 As with people who enjoy the taste of
alcohol, it is very difficult for ambitious
people to become satisfied, they usually
take more and more into consideration.
 taste : (here means) preference
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allow for: take sth. into consideration
Some expressions
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under the counter: secretly; illegally
- handle business under the counter
- The banned book was sold under the counter.
- At least one of my own novels has to be sold
under the counter as though it were whisky.
Paraphrase:
-Still, none of this seems a sufficient cause for driving
ambition under the counter
- Again, none of what mentioned above has enough
reason to force ambition to become secret ,illegal and
hidden.
Discussion: The four main aspects ambition and
ambitious people are attacked on: (para. 1-3 )
1. Ambition is inconsistent with good
sense and stability.
 2. Most ambitious people are to be
distrusted.
 3. The outcome of ambitious dreams is
usually unpredictable.
 4. Ambition does not always allow for easy
satisfaction; single-minded ambitious
people give ambition a bad name.
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Main idea of the first part (para.
1 - 3):
 Although for a long time ambition has come
under heavy attack and has been given a
bad name, it is by no means illegal and
will exist forever.
paragraph 4-5
What is mainly discussed in this part?
 The worst that can be said about
ambition.
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Words and phrases related to the worst attributes
related to ambition :
antisocial
 outmoded (out of date)
 ignore the collectivity
 socially detached
 on his own
 out for his own
 far from identifying
himself and his fortunes
with the group (not
making himself
associated with the
group)

wish to rise about
the group
 see the world as a
battle, rivalrousness
 Jesuitical (cunning)
 a dog-eat-dog world,
be the dogs that do
the eating

details
The ambitious individual, far from identifying
himself and his fortunes with the group, wishes
to rise above it. (lines 7-8, para. 4)
 An ambitious person does not want to be
part of a group, but he wishes to progress
and outdistance it.
 far from: not at all
 identify with: equate with ; associate
oneself with
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argue those possessed by it into believing...
(line 12, para. 4)
persuade those who are obsessed by
ambition to believe…
 argue sb into : persuade sb to do sth
 They argued him into adoption of the
plan.
 You want to argue me into agreeing
your proposal?
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possess vt. control, obsess
I’m absolutely dreading making the
after-dinner speech---I don’t know what
possessed me to agree to it.
 possessed (by) a. obsessed (with)
 She is possessed by her drive to get
into the best college.
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…they are distinguished by wanting to be the dogs
that do the eating. (lines 15-16, para. 4)

…what makes them different is that they
want to come out on top in the
competition.
Paraphrase (paragraph 5)
From here it is but a short hop to believe
that …(line 1, para. 5)
 From this point (being the dogs that do the
eating), it is very easy to think that…
 Discussion:
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What implied meaning we can easily infer
from paragraph 4?
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The common goals of ambition such as
money, fame, and power are often achieved
by dishonest means.
Why does the author mention politicians in high
positions in paragraph 5?
According to the worst that can be said
about ambitious people in para. 4, one
might think that any high-ranking
politician must have gone against moral
principles in order to climb so high.
 This example shows ambition that’s
gotten out of control and left moral
scruples behind.
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paragraph 6-7
From what angle is ambition discussed in
this part?
 The author thinks if ambition is to have
vitality, it must be widely shared and
esteemed by people who are
themselves admired. But strangely,
those who enjoy the rewards of
ambition have claimed to have given
up on ambition as ideals.
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Examples supporting the author’s analysis:
The revolutionary lawyer
 the critic of American materialism
 the publisher of radical books,
 the journalist
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…must be considered worthy of the sacrifices
made on ambition’s behalf.(lines 2-3, para. 6)
… must be considered worthy of sacrifices
made because of ambition
 on someone’s behalf (on behalf of someone):
because of; representing; for the sake of
 Please don’t leave on my behalf.
 On behalf of the company as a whole, I
would like to thank you for all your work.

There is a heavy note of hypocrisy in this.
(line 13, para. 6)
The situation is filled with hypocrisy.
 a note of: showing someone’s thinking
and feeling by the way their voice sounds
 a note of anger
 a not of jealousy
 a note of anxiety
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paraphrase
Certainly people do not seem less interested
in success and its accoutrements now than
formerly.(lines 1-2, para. 7)
 Certainly people now seem as much
interested in success and the comforts
that come with it as before.
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paraphrase
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Instead we are treated to fine pharisaical
spectacles, which now more than ever seem
in ample supply…(lines 7-9, para. 7)

We see more hypocritical examples now
than ever…
treat sb to: supply someone with sth
special as a friendly act
 I shall treat myself to a good
weekend holiday.
 John treated Linda to the theater
when they met first time.
 treat n.: a special event; sth pleasant
 Granny took us for tea at Lyons Corner
House as a special treat.
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Conclusion of paragraph 6-7 given by the
author:
“Succeed at all costs but refrain
from appearing ambitious.”
 surface meaning:
 Try every means to succeed but do not
appear ambitious.
 deep meaning:
 Nowadays the educated are more
hypocritical than before.
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Paragraphs 8-11
Discussion:
 What is this part mainly about?

paragraph 8
…its public defenders are few and
unimpressive, where they are not extremely
unattractive (lines 1-3, para. 8)
 Public defenders of ambition are few
and not impressive, but it doesn’t mean
they do not attract people’s attention at
all.
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where conj. : whereas; but
 Where most people saw nothing but a
hardened criminal, john saw a lonely
and desperate man.
 They want a house, where we would
rather live in a flat.
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paraphrase
As a result, the support for ambition as a
healthy impulse, a quality to be admired and
inculcated in the young, is probably lower
than it has ever been in the United
States.(lines 3-5, para. 8)
 As a result, support for ambition as a
respected value to be taught to youth is
lower than ever in the US.

…as witness the blatant pratings of its
contemporary promoters. (lines10-11,
para.8)
 … as shown in the offensive ongoing
idle talk of its current sponsors.
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paragraph 9
Ambition… is morally a two-sided
street.(lines4-5,para.9)
 a two-sided street: a street that one
can get to in two directions
 the meaning of the metaphor used here:
 The goals of ambition can be achieved
in two ways.
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The two ways implied in the metaphor:
sacrificing some moral principles to
achieve the goals of ambition
 achieving the goals of ambition without
sacrificing moral principles
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Examples of ignoble actions VS kind and helpful
actions in the paragraph:
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John Dean
(Watergate Affairs):
ignoble action
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Andrew Carnegie
(the library of Lord
Acton): kind and
helpful action
Why does the writer give the example of
Watergate affair?
 To illustrate the idea that many people
believe ambition is not easily controlled
and why many people are naturally
distrustful of ambition.
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Paraphrase
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Many people are naturally distrustful of
ambition, feeling that it represents
something intractable in human nature.
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Many people are ,of course, suspicious
about ambition in that they feel that
ambition reflects some evil aspects in
human characters which are very
difficult to deal with.
Paraphrase
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… as if ambition were to blame for his
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…as if the reason for his shameful
actions were ambition, but not a group
of bad qualities which are actually
responsible for the making-up of his
dishonorable character.
ignoble actions, and not the
constellation of qualities that make up
his rather shabby character.
Paraphrase
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Need much more be said on the subject
than that, important though ambition is,
there are some things that one must
not sacrifice to it?
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Is it necessary to say much more on the
subject (ambition and morality) than
what has already said, for , though
ambition is important, there are some
things more important than it, one
cannot sacrifice them to ambition?
be to blame for: be responsible for a
fault or wrong (blame adj.)
Examples:
 1. He was to blame for their death.
 2. The hot weather is partly to blame
for (= the reason for) the water
shortage
 C.f. blame v.
 Hugh blames his lack of confidence on
his mother.
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what does going at things the other way
refer to?
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It refers to sacrificing ambition in order to
avoid its potential excesses (its may-be
unacceptable or immoral actions).
Paragraph 10
Why does the writer think it is wrong to
sacrifice ambition in order to avoid potential
excesses?
 To discourage ambition is to discourage
dreams of greatness.

What distinguishes people one from
another?
Two things make people different from
one another:
 1. Their dreams (ambitions)
 2. What they do to make their dreams
come about (realized)
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paraphrase
But going at things the other way, sacrificing
ambition so as to guard against its potential
excesses, is to go at things wrongly. (lines1-2,
para.10)
 But it is also wrong to make great efforts to
do these things (discussed above) the
opposite way, that is to say, sacrificing
ambition in order to prevent the potential
excesses caused by it. Here potential
excesses means potential unacceptable
immoral behaviors.
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Paragraph 11
Remove ambition and the essential elements
of society seem to fly apart. (line3-4, para.
11)
 If we remove ambition, the essential
elements of society seem to disappear
suddenly.

as opposed to: (when two things are
contrasted and the emphasis is on the first)相
反，而不是
There is a need for technical colleges as
opposed to universities.
 I’d prefer to go on holiday in May, as
opposed to (=rather than) September.
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run on: be concerned with, have as a subject
His talk ran on recent developments in
the industry.
 Bright’s mind kept running foolishly on
the same theme.
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The main idea (para. 8-11):
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To discourage ambition is to discourage
dreams of greatness.
Paragraph 12-13
What is the writer’s attitude towards a world
without ambition?
 A world without ambition is unimaginable.
If there were no ambition, life in it would
be so boring that nobody could endure it.
 Your attitude?
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Main idea (para. 12-13)
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Ambition will never be eliminated from the
world.
Topic sentence in each parts:
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Part 1 (para. 1-3) None of this seems a sufficient
cause for driving ambition under the counter.
Part 2(para. 4-5) What is the worst that can be said
abut ambition?
Part 3(para.6-7) There is a heavy note of hypocrisy
in this.
Part 4(pars.8-11) To discourage ambition is to
discourage dreams of greatness.
Part 5(para. 12-13) Ah, how unrelievedly boring life
would be.
Key to Exercises
Vocabulary and structure
 A. 1. distinction 2. sheer
3.commensurate 4. refraining 5.
incidentally 6. alleviate 7. deemed 8.are
blamed for 9. impulse 10. come across
 B. 1. give…away 2. going at 3. imbued
with 4. identify …with 5. has risen above
6. own up 7. allow for 8. treat…to 9. Dogeat-dog 10. the counter
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C. 1. choice, choose, chosen 2.
inextricable 3. shorn 4. definition 5.
increasingly 6. social 7. Participatory 8.
acquisitive 9. weighing 10. intimacy
 D. 1. D. to pay them 2. A. Much as 3. D.
endearing himself 4. C. number of 5. D.
ignored 6. D. differently 7. A. respond 8. C.
no more 9. B. that 10. C. /
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E.
1. holds 2. therefore 3. Does 4. really 5.
empty 6. of 7. success 8. nor
9. not 10. exists 11. likely 12. in 13.
historical 14. upbringing 15. condition
16. choicelessness 17. honorably 18.
trivial 19. how 20. ours
Translation
1. In spite of her recent election success, she
remains first and foremost a writer, not a
politician.
 2. Ambition is always identified with rank,
fame and power. Therefore many people have
been unwilling to talk about their dreams for
a long time.
 3. Surely, if you want to be famous, it is
necessary for you to have ideal, because it is
behind the accomplishment, but different
from ambition.

Translation
4. Ambition is often regarded as being
commensurate with bad sense because the
single-minded have tried to achieve their
goals by fair means or foul and often harm
others.
 5. Truly ambitious people seem to be modest
but actually they are on their own.
 6. Certainly some people are very interested
in their rank and fame. But what has
happened is that they do not own up to it.

Translation
7. Some people try to go on in life at all costs
but refrain from appearing ambitious. We
should be aware that there is a note of
hypocrisy.
 8. Although he has come under attacks and
has been considered ambitious, none of them
are strong enough to make him give up on
his dreams.
 9. It is not difficult to imagine a world shorn
of ambition.It would probably be a world with
no progress and no development. And, of
course, it would be a tedious world.

Translation

10. To develop our society, we need a
large number of people who have both
ideals and ambition because both of these
have the power to inspire people to
further efforts. Therefore, both are
linchpin of our society.

Reading practice
1. B. 2. C 3. B 4. D
5.A