What is the Difference Between Ambition and Aspiration

The main difference between ambition and aspiration is that ambition is more related to achieving a powerful rank or fame while aspiration is more related to achieving some high accomplishment in life. Moreover, the desire in ambition is stronger than in aspiration.

We all have dreams and hopes for different accomplishments in our lives. Sometimes we may be able to achieve them, but sometimes we might not be able to. However, it does not stop most of us from dreaming or aspiring for our future goals somehow or other.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Ambition 
     – Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Aspiration
     – Definition, Characteristics
3. What are the Similarities Between Ambition and Aspiration
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Ambition and Aspiration
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Ambition, Aspiration, Desires, Hopes, Wishes, Words

What is Ambition

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, ambition means “an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power”. Hence, the element of desire is more powerful in ambition than that in aspiration.

Accordingly, the noun ambition is associated mostly with one’s ultimate future target in their lives; for instance, when someone asks’ what’s your ambition? Your answer will be the person you desire to be in your future. Hence, this shows that ambition highlights someone’s goal in their lives.

Thus, ambition is a stronger desire to accomplish your future target, which is almost always related to your rank or position, either in your career life or elsewhere. With your interactions with people, with the ideals you admire in your life, you begin to create your ambitions, and you work hard to achieve them one day. Therefore, ambition is almost always related to you. Nobody can make ambitions for you; only you can create your own ambition.

What is Aspiration

Merriam Webster dictionary defines aspiration as “a strong desire to achieve something high or great.”. Thus, hope and wishes are two synonyms for the noun aspirations.

Thus, the desire in aspiration is not that strong as ambition. Hence, it is more of a wish or a hope for your future goal. Therefore, if you have aspirations in your life, then that means you have certain goals in your life that you hope or wish to accomplish one day.

Moreover, the word aspiration can be related to external sources as well. For instance, your parents may have aspirations for you, such as creating a valuable citizen out of you with their better guidance, your education and other virtues in life. Or you can aspire someone else to have a better life without suffering, etc. 

Thus, aspiration is more like a hope, and it is not a burning desire or passion like ambition; therefore, we consider aspirations as the nobler wishes or hopes than the ambitions.

Similarities Between Ambition and Aspiration

• Ambition and aspiration are nouns.
• Both ambition and aspiration describe our longing or hopes for future goals.

Difference Between Ambition and Aspiration

Definition

Ambition can be defined as an ardent desire for your future goal in life or an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power. On the other hand, aspiration refers to a strong desire to achieve something high or great. Therefore, it can be a strong need to succeed in someone’s future plans.

Desire

The desire to accomplish future targets is stronger in ambition than that in aspiration. Thus, this is the main difference between ambition and aspiration.

Nature

Moreover, ambition is solely individual while aspirations can be individually linked and imposed on the individual by external people as well.

Accomplishment

Accomplishment is also a major difference between ambition and aspiration. The final accomplishment in ambition is most often the ultimate position or rank in life you want to be. On the other hand, the accomplishment in aspiration can vary from one goal to another. Hence, achievements related to aspiration are the future goals that might lead you to your ambition.

Longing

The longing to accomplish your ambition is higher and stronger when compared to aspirations. You can create different aspirations if some of them fail, but if you do not succeed in your ambition, it might lead to negative consequences as a result of being too desirous of it. Hence, this is another difference between ambition and aspiration.

Conclusion

There is a distinct difference between ambition and aspiration although people often use them interchangeably. Accordingly, the main difference between ambition and aspiration is that the ambition more relates to achieving a powerful rank or fame while, the aspiration more relates to achieving some high accomplishment in life. While ambition is characterized by an ardent desire, aspiration is comparatively a strong desire. Nevertheless, both refer to a strong longing for achieving your future plans.

Image Courtesy:

1. “1449049” (CC0) via Pxhere
2. “Nun With Candle Theravada Buddhism Making Aspiration” (CC0) via Max Pixel