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I n many ways, ambition is the force behind humankind’s greatest achievements. Whether it is exploring the universe, pushing technology forward, campaigning for equality, fighting against oppression, or just trying to make a better life for yourself and others, ambition is the fuel that drives us forward.
And yet, ambition has a dark side. Left unchecked, ambition can lead to greed, corruption, and violence. The ambition to unlock the secrets of the atom, for instance, led to the development of the most destructive weapons ever created.
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Where is the line at which bravery becomes foolishness? At what point does failing to take a risk become cowardice? Do you agree with Theodore Roosevelt, who said, “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” It seems daring and inspirational to agree, but not everybody wants to live the outrageous sort of life that Teddy Roosevelt did.
In the movie Wall Street, the character Gordon Gekko is a stockbroker who becomes an American symbol of blind ambition. At a critical moment in the movie, he shares his philosophy with a group of stockholders:
The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed — for lack of a better word — is good.
Greed is right.
Greed works.
Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.
Greed, in all of its forms — greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind.
What makes Gordon Gekko’s character so compelling is that his ideas hold a kernel of truth, and yet he has also become a cautionary tale in American culture—
It seems clear that ambition must be held in check by some kind of restraint, which could be external like laws or other people, or internal like emotions or personal beliefs. But where is the line?
In this chapter, we’ll ponder these two forces—
What aspects of this scene from Wall Street capture Gordon Gekko’s power and ambition?
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OPENING ACTIVITY 1
Consider Gekko’s statements regarding greed. Then, summarize each of his ideas and provide an example from history, current events, or personal experience that supports each of his ideas:
How is greed “good” and in what ways does it “work”?
What is the “evolutionary spirit” and in what ways does greed capture its essence?
What is the “upward surge of mankind” and how has it been influenced or “marked” by greed?
Now imagine you are interviewing Gekko for a story in a magazine. Write three questions you would ask him that would challenge his ideas and three questions that would support his assertions. After you have written your questions, select one and then write a response from Gekko’s perspective.
OPENING ACTIVITY 2
Consider your own ambitions at this point in your life. What do you wish to achieve this year? What do you wish to achieve in the next five years? When you are much older and perhaps getting ready to retire, what accomplishments would you hope to have by that point in your life?
After considering your own ambitions, discuss what lengths you are prepared to go to in order to achieve your ambitions and what limitations or constraints you will place on yourself as you work to achieve your aspirations.