Still, no society can afford to belittle it, especially now that technology promises ever-greater opportunity. Perhaps the worthiest ambition is the one that goads us to make the best of whatever talents or conditions life hands us. We see no virtue in a gifted person who squanders his or her gifts. We rightly admire even a modestly talented person who strives to surpass all expectations. We expect ambition to pay off in something beneficial and respect ambition that adds value to a business, to a community, to knowledge, to life itself.
Good ambition demands that wealth be created in a way that benefits and inspires others.
Money brings power, which, depending on its use, can be a force for good, but those who have it must be wary of its corrupting influence. You advised that the ambitious person has always needed creativity, daring and timing, as well as perseverance. Timing can be a factor in acquiring success, but daring and timing go together. When daring is augmented by a shrewd sense of timing, a vision of the future unseen by others, ambition flourishes. When timing is augmented by the courage to persevere in the face of obstacles, achievement thrives.