E3DA44
Definition of an Emotion — Part III
Latin
Ambitio est immodica gloriæ cupiditas.
Explicatio: Ambitio est cupiditas qua omnes affectus (per propositiones 27 et 31 hujus) foventur et corroborantur et ideo hic affectus vix superari potest. Nam quamdiu homo aliqua cupiditate tenetur, hac simul necessario tenetur. Optimus quisque inquit Cicero maxime gloria ducitur. Philosophi etiam libris quos de contemnenda gloria scribunt, nomen suum inscribunt etc.
English (Elwes 1883)
Ambition is the immoderate desire of power.
Explanation: Ambition is the desire, whereby all the emotions (cf. III. xxvii. and xxxi.) are fostered and strengthened; therefore this emotion can with difficulty be overcome. For, so long as a man is bound by any desire, he is at the same time necessarily bound by this. "The best men," says Cicero, "are especially led by honour. Even philosophers, when they write a book contemning honour, sign their names thereto," and so on.
Modern English
Ambition is immoderate desire for glory.
Explanation: Ambition is the desire by which all affects (E3P27) are fostered and strengthened (E3P31). For this reason this affect can scarcely be overcome. As long as a person is held by any desire, they are at the same time necessarily held by this one. "The best men," as Cicero says, "are led above all by glory," and philosophers who write books despising glory still put their own names on them.