“ A man who has attained his ambition knows what to count on; a man who has his way to make does not know what may come--it may be better or worse. ”
Guy de Maupassant, Bel-Ami (1885). copy citation
| Author | Guy de Maupassant |
|---|---|
| Source | Bel-Ami |
| Topic | ambition |
| Date | 1885 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bel_Ami |
Context
“Do not be angry that I broach the subject at such a time, but the day after to-morrow I shall leave here and when you return to Paris it might be too late. You know that I am only a poor devil, who has his position to make, but I have the will and some intelligence, and I am advancing. A man who has attained his ambition knows what to count on; a man who has his way to make does not know what may come--it may be better or worse. I told you one day that my most cherished dream was to have a wife like you."
"I repeat it to you to-day. Do not reply, but let me continue. This is no proposal--the time and place would render it odious.”
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