To be the best person we can be; to have a well-run family, to be of benefit to our country, to bring peace to the world: these are the things we should all aspire to.

When Confucius discussed ambition with his students he did not suggest that the higher your ambition the better. What really matters is that you are firm of purpose and keep true to your inner conviction.

Whether your goals are great or small, the basis for realizing them lies in finding the things that are closest to your heart. Allowing your heart to guide you will always be more important than chasing external achievements.

How should we understand ambition today? Is there a conflict between Confucius’s attitudes and our modern goals?