ambíció

Ambíció is a noun used in Catalan to denote a strong desire to achieve goals or gain status, coupled with the drive to plan, work, and persevere to reach them. In Portuguese, the cognate ambição carries a similar meaning. The English equivalent is ambition. The term can have neutral or positive connotations when framed as a healthy motivation or as a negative when it becomes excessive or leads to unethical behavior.

Etymology: Ambíció derives from Latin ambitio, meaning “desire to win influence or favour,” passing into Romance languages through Old French ambicion and into the regional forms ambició (Catalan) and ambição (Portuguese).

Usage: Ambíció is commonly used to discuss personal or collective aims, such as career advancement, artistic achievement, or political influence. It is often described alongside qualifiers indicating its tone, such as “healthy ambition” or “unbridled ambition,” to distinguish constructive striving from overreaching.

In culture and psychology: In literature and philosophy, ambition is a recurring motif that can propel protagonists and shape ethical choices. In psychology, ambition is viewed as a motivational construct linked with goal setting, self-regulation, and persistence, yet it may also relate to risk-taking or moral compromise when pursued without restraint.