There is a strong view that holds that success is a myth, and ambition therefore a sham.Does this mean that success does not really exist?That achievement is at bottom empty?That the efforts of men and women are of no significance alongside the force of movements and events now not all success, obviously, is worth esteeming, nor all ambition worth cultivating.Which are and which are not is something one soon enough learns on one’s own.But even the most cynical secretly admit that success exists；that achievement counts for a great deal；and that the true myth is that the actions of men and women are useless.To believe otherwise is to take on a point of view that is likely to be deranging.It is, in its implications, to remove all motives for competence, interest in attainment, and regard for posterity.
We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents.We do not choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing.We do not, most of us, choose to die；nor do we choose the time or conditions of our death.But within all this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live：courageously or in cowardice, honorably or dishonorably, with purpose or in drift.We decide what is important and what is trivial in life.We decide that what makes us significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do.But no matter how indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions, these choices and decisions are ours to make.We decide.We choose.And as we decide and choose, so are our lives formed.In the end, forming our own destiny is what ambition is about.
-sham [ʃæm]n.假装
典型例句
His love was a sham；he only wanted her money.
他爱她是假的，他只想要她的钱。
联想记忆
fake n.假货
real adj.真的
-alongside [əˌlɒŋˈsaɪd]adv.在旁边
典型例句
Alongside of him stood his uncle.
他的身旁站着他叔叔。
最常用法
alongside of 在……旁边
alongside with 与……一起
联想记忆
along prep.沿着
-esteem [ɪˈstiːm]v.尊重，敬重
典型例句
I esteem his work highly.
我非常尊重他的工作。
最常用法
hold sb.in high/great esteem 对某人怀有崇高的敬意
联想记忆
respect v.尊敬
-implication [ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn]n.含意，暗示
典型例句
The new report has far-reaching implications for the future of broadcasting.
这一新报告对广播业的前途有些意味深长的暗示。
最常用法
implication for sb./sth.某人/某事的暗示
联想记忆
implicit adj.含蓄的
hint n.暗示
-motive [ˈməutɪv]n.动机，动因
典型例句
The police could not find a motive for the murder.
警方未能找出谋杀者的动机。
最常用法
motive for（doing）sth.（做）某事的动机
motive behind 背后的动机
联想记忆
motivation n.动机，目的
-attainment [əˈteɪnmənt]n.达到，成就
典型例句
The attainment of the success is not easy.
成功的取得并不容易。
联想记忆
achievement n.成就，成绩
attain v.达到，获得
-posterity [pɔˈsterətɪ]n.后代
典型例句
Posterity will remember him as a truly great man.
他的子孙永远不会忘记他是真正的伟人。
最常用法
keep sth.for posterity 为后代保存某物
联想记忆
offspring n.子孙，后代
-refuse [ˈrefjuːz]v.拒绝，不接受
典型例句
She refused him/his proposal of marriage.
他向她求婚，她拒绝了。
最常用法
refuse to do sth.拒绝做某事
联想记忆
decline v.谢绝
turn down 拒绝
accept v.接受
有一种盛行的观点认为，成功是一种神话，因此抱负亦属虚幻。这是不是说实际上并不存在成功？成就本身就是一场空？与诸多运动和事件的力量相比，男男女女的努力显得微不足道？显然，并非所有的成功都值得景仰，也并非所有的抱负都值得追求。对值得和不值得的选择，一个人自然而然很快就能学会。但即使是最为愤世嫉俗的人暗地里也承认，成功确实存在，成就的意义举足轻重，而把世上男男女女的所作所为说成是徒劳无功才是真正的无稽之谈。认为成功不存在的观点很可能造成混乱。这种观点的本意是一笔勾销所有提高能力的动机，求取业绩的兴趣和对子孙后代的关注。
我们无法选择出生，无法选择父母，无法选择出生的历史时期与国家，或是成长的周遭环境。我们大多数人都无法选择死亡，无法选择死亡的时间或条件。但是在这些无法选择之中，我们的确可以选择自己的生活方式：是勇敢无畏还是胆小怯懦，是光明磊落还是厚颜无耻，是目标坚定还是随波逐流。我们决定生活中哪些至关重要，哪些微不足道。我们决定，用以显示我们自身重要性的，不是我们做了什么，就是我们拒绝做些什么。但是不论世界对我们所做的选择和决定有多么漠不关心，这些选择和决定终究是我们自己做出的。我们决定，我们选择。而当我们决定和选择时，我们的生活便得以形成。最终构筑我们命运的就是抱负之所在。