"Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions"

This quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow suggests that ambition can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, ambition can be a powerful motivator, pressing us to pursue higher success and accomplishment. On the other hand, aspiration can be a limitation, causing us to become overwhelmed and sidetracked from the smaller sized tasks that are required for success. Longfellow suggests that if we focus on the smaller sized tasks, we can accomplish success without the concern of excellent ambitions. He implies that aspiration can be an interruption from the small, achievable goals that are essential for success. He motivates us to focus on the little jobs and to not be overwhelmed by the bigger ambitions. In this way, we can achieve success without the burden of great ambitions.