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← Ambition does not equate with happiness: in the Harvard aging cohort…
17 connected korrents · 14 moments from 1 Feb 1903 to 10 Sept 2026. Nearly all of them are about ambition .
Everything filed under happiness
happiness
Everything filed under startups
startups
Everything filed under innovation
innovation
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patience Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: Ambition does not equate with happiness: in the Harvard aging cohort it was the people who lived average lives who reported being happiest. Ambition does not equate with happiness: in the Harvard aging cohort it was the people who lived average lives who reported being happiest. Last stated 2 months ago
24 Aug 2026
MH
Masud Husain — holds since 2026-08-24 — tap for who they are
Same subject: No calamity is greater than discontent with one's lot, and the sufficiency of contentment endures — tap to centre the map on it No calamity is greater than discontent with one's lot, and the sufficiency of contentment endures
LA
Laozi — holds since c. 450–250 BCE — tap for who they are
Same subject: A founder needs ambition rather than a sense of duty, because a startup is grueling enough that dutifulness will not carry anyone through it. — tap to centre the map on it A founder needs ambition rather than a sense of duty, because a startup is grueling enough that dutifulness will not carry anyone through it. Last stated 2 months ago
3 Sept 2026
PG
Paul Graham — holds since 2026-09-03 — tap for who they are
Same subject: After a year or more of building for velocity, the next year will probably be won on ambition instead. — tap to centre the map on it After a year or more of building for velocity, the next year will probably be won on ambition instead. Last stated a month ago
10 Sept 2026
CV
Claire Vo — holds since 2026-09-10 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Ambition in founders is mostly inborn, which is why stories of a founder acquiring it during a batch are rare. — tap to centre the map on it Ambition in founders is mostly inborn, which is why stories of a founder acquiring it during a batch are rare. Last stated 2 months ago
3 Sept 2026
PG
Paul Graham — holds since 2026-09-03 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Ambition should be measured in the eyes of your customer rather than your peers, which means being willing to take the best ideas wherever you find them. — tap to centre the map on it Ambition should be measured in the eyes of your customer rather than your peers, which means being willing to take the best ideas wherever you find them. Last stated 4 months ago
14 Jun 2026
MP
Mark Pincus — holds since 2026-06-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: An AI agent's execution is only as good as the goal and the verification criteria given to it; ambition without verification is just a wish. — tap to centre the map on it An AI agent's execution is only as good as the goal and the verification criteria given to it; ambition without verification is just a wish. Last stated 5 months ago
10 May 2026
JL
Jason Liu — holds since 2026-05-10 — tap for who they are
Same subject: An inventor's highest ambition should be that the invention is eventually taken for granted and stops being seen as an invention at all. — tap to centre the map on it An inventor's highest ambition should be that the invention is eventually taken for granted and stops being seen as an invention at all. Last stated 3 years ago
14 Dec 2023
JB
Jeff Bezos — holds since 2023-12-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Black Americans should support Booker T. Washington's thrift and industrial training but firmly oppose his acceptance of injustice — tap to centre the map on it Black Americans should support Booker T. Washington's thrift and industrial training but firmly oppose his acceptance of injustice Last stated 124 years ago
1 Feb 1903
WB
W. E. B. Du Bois — holds since 1903-02-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A free person thinks about death least of all; their wisdom is a meditation on life, not death — tap to centre the map on it A free person thinks about death least of all; their wisdom is a meditation on life, not death
BS
Baruch Spinoza — holds since c. 1661–1675 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A good life is forged from the very things that make it hard, since joy and pain in relationships come together. — tap to centre the map on it A good life is forged from the very things that make it hard, since joy and pain in relationships come together. Last stated 4 years ago
13 Jan 2023
RW
Robert Waldinger — holds since 2023-01-13 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A good life rests on things that demand skill and effort from you, not on goods that arrive requiring none. — tap to centre the map on it A good life rests on things that demand skill and effort from you, not on goods that arrive requiring none. Last stated 2 years ago
16 May 2024
LS
L. M. Sacasas — holds since 2024-05-16 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Lasting satisfaction comes from studying how others play, then defining and fully playing one's own game rather than someone else's. — tap to centre the map on it Lasting satisfaction comes from studying how others play, then defining and fully playing one's own game rather than someone else's. Last stated 6 months ago
22 Apr 2026
SW
swyx — holds since 2026-04-22 — tap for who they are
Same subject: People are natural-born creators, and creating is important to human satisfaction. — tap to centre the map on it People are natural-born creators, and creating is important to human satisfaction. Last stated a year ago
30 Sept 2025
SA
Sam Altman — holds since 2025-09-30 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Taking responsibility for something can give life purpose — tap to centre the map on it Taking responsibility for something can give life purpose Last stated 3 years ago
2 May 2023
DH
David Heinemeier Hansson — holds since 2023-05-02 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Asking each morning whether today would be worth living as the last day of one’s life shows when something needs to change. — tap to centre the map on it Asking each morning whether today would be worth living as the last day of one’s life shows when something needs to change. Last stated 21 years ago
12 Jun 2005
SJ
Steve Jobs — holds since 2005-06-12 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Giving kids independence is beneficial for them — tap to centre the map on it Giving kids independence is beneficial for them Last stated 4 years ago
27 Apr 2022
DH
David Heinemeier Hansson — holds since 2022-04-27 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Life ultimately means taking responsibility for answering its problems and fulfilling the tasks it sets each person — tap to centre the map on it Life ultimately means taking responsibility for answering its problems and fulfilling the tasks it sets each person
VF
Viktor Frankl — holds since c. 1946–1992 — tap for who they are
At the centre
Ambition does not equate with happiness: in the Harvard aging cohort it was the people who lived average lives who reported being happiest.
Holds Read this korrent →
No calamity is greater than discontent with one's lot, and the sufficiency of contentment endures
Last stated c. 450–250 BCE
Holds
A founder needs ambition rather than a sense of duty, because a startup is grueling enough that dutifulness will not carry anyone through it.
Holds
After a year or more of building for velocity, the next year will probably be won on ambition instead.
Holds
Ambition in founders is mostly inborn, which is why stories of a founder acquiring it during a batch are rare.
Holds
Ambition should be measured in the eyes of your customer rather than your peers, which means being willing to take the best ideas wherever you find them.
Holds
An AI agent's execution is only as good as the goal and the verification criteria given to it; ambition without verification is just a wish.
Holds
An inventor's highest ambition should be that the invention is eventually taken for granted and stops being seen as an invention at all.
Holds
Black Americans should support Booker T. Washington's thrift and industrial training but firmly oppose his acceptance of injustice
Holds
A free person thinks about death least of all; their wisdom is a meditation on life, not death
Last stated c. 1661–1675
Holds
A good life is forged from the very things that make it hard, since joy and pain in relationships come together.
Holds
A good life rests on things that demand skill and effort from you, not on goods that arrive requiring none.
Holds
Lasting satisfaction comes from studying how others play, then defining and fully playing one's own game rather than someone else's.
Holds
People are natural-born creators, and creating is important to human satisfaction.
Holds
Taking responsibility for something can give life purpose
Holds
Asking each morning whether today would be worth living as the last day of one’s life shows when something needs to change.
Holds
Giving kids independence is beneficial for them
Holds
Life ultimately means taking responsibility for answering its problems and fulfilling the tasks it sets each person
Last stated c. 1946–1992
Holds