Vision vs. Ambition — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
"Vision" refers to a foresight or long-term goal for the future. "Ambition" is a strong desire for success, power, or achievement. Both relate to future aspirations, but vision is more about clarity and direction, while ambition is about the drive.
Difference Between Vision and Ambition
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Key Differences
"Vision" often denotes an ability to see and plan for the future. It encompasses a clear idea or mental picture of what one hopes to achieve or become. In contrast, "Ambition" conveys the zeal or determination to reach a particular goal, often driven by desire or passion.
In the realm of business, a leader's "Vision" represents the organization's roadmap, guiding its direction and long-term objectives. Simultaneously, "Ambition" is what fuels individuals or organizations to pursue those goals vigorously, ensuring they reach or surpass their targets.
When someone talks about their "Vision," they're sharing their ideal picture of the future, often filled with hope and optimism. When they refer to their "Ambition," it's more about the intensity of their commitment and the lengths they're willing to go to succeed.
Both "Vision" and "Ambition" are necessary for success in any endeavor. A clear vision provides purpose and a sense of direction. At the same time, ambition offers the motivational drive to make that vision a reality.
To sum it up, while "Vision" lays out the desired future path, "Ambition" represents the tenacity and drive to move along that path and achieve the set objectives.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A foresight or long-term goal
A strong desire for success
Root Word
Latin "visio" meaning "seeing"
Latin "ambitio" meaning "going around (especially for votes)"
Contextual Emotion
Hope and clarity
Drive and determination
Relationship to Success
Provides direction
Provides motivation
In Terms of Longevity
Often long-term
Can be short-term or long-term
Compare with Definitions
Vision
The ability to think about and plan for the future.
His vision for the company set it on a path to success.
Ambition
An aspiration for rank or power.
His ambition drove him to run for mayor.
Vision
A dream or aspiration.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of equality for all.
Ambition
Desire and determination to achieve success.
Without ambition, he felt lost in life.
Vision
Sight or the faculty of seeing.
After the accident, he lost his vision.
Ambition
A strong desire to achieve something.
Her ambition led her to become a top scientist.
Vision
The faculty of sight; eyesight
Poor vision.
Ambition
A goal or objective desired.
His main ambition was to travel the world.
Vision
Something that is or has been seen.
Ambition
An eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power.
Vision
Unusual competence in discernment or perception; intelligent foresight
A leader of vision.
Ambition
The object or goal desired
Her ambition is the presidency.
Vision
The manner in which one sees or conceives of something.
Ambition
Desire for exertion or activity; energy
Had no ambition to go dancing.
Vision
A mental image produced by the imagination.
Ambition
Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people.
My son, John, wants to be a firefighter very much. He has a lot of ambition.
Vision
The mystical experience of seeing something that is not in fact present to the eye or is supernatural.
Ambition
(countable) An object of an ardent desire.
My ambition is to own a helicopter.
Vision
A person or thing of extraordinary beauty.
Ambition
A desire, as in (sense 1), for another person to achieve these things.
Vision
To see in a vision.
Ambition
(uncountable) A personal quality similar to motivation, not necessarily tied to a single goal.
Vision
To picture in the mind; envision.
Ambition
(obsolete) The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing.
Vision
(uncountable) The sense or ability of sight.
Ambition
To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet.
Vision
(countable) Something seen; an object perceived visually.
Ambition
The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing.
[I] used no ambition to commend my deeds.
Vision
(countable) Something imaginary one thinks one sees.
He tried drinking from the pool of water, but realized it was only a vision.
Ambition
An eager, and sometimes an inordinate, desire for preferment, honor, superiority, power, or the attainment of something.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling a way ambition:By that sin fell the angels.
The pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres.
Vision
Something unreal or imaginary; a creation of fancy.
Ambition
To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet.
Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with Xerxes for his daughter in marriage.
Vision
(countable) An ideal or a goal toward which one aspires.
He worked tirelessly toward his vision of world peace.
Ambition
A cherished desire;
His ambition is to own his own business
Vision
(countable) A religious or mystical experience of a supernatural appearance.
He had a vision of the Virgin Mary.
Ambition
A strong drive for success
Vision
(countable) A person or thing of extraordinary beauty.
Ambition
Have as one's ambition
Vision
(uncountable) Pre-recorded film or tape; footage.
Ambition
The drive or eagerness to achieve.
She was full of ambition and ready to tackle any challenge.
Vision
(transitive) To imagine something as if it were to be true.
Vision
(transitive) To present as in a vision.
Vision
(transitive) To provide with a vision. en
Vision
The act of seeing external objects; actual sight.
Faith here is turned into vision there.
Vision
The faculty of seeing; sight; one of the five senses, by which colors and the physical qualities of external objects are appreciated as a result of the stimulating action of light on the sensitive retina, an expansion of the optic nerve.
Vision
That which is seen; an object of sight.
Vision
Especially, that which is seen otherwise than by the ordinary sight, or the rational eye; a supernatural, prophetic, or imaginary sight; an apparition; a phantom; a specter; as, the visions of Isaiah.
The baseless fabric of this vision.
No dreams, but visions strange.
Vision
Hence, something unreal or imaginary; a creation of fancy.
Vision
To see in a vision; to dream.
For them no visioned terrors daunt,Their nights no fancied specters haunt.
Vision
A vivid mental image;
He had a vision of his own death
Vision
The ability to see; the faculty of vision
Vision
The perceptual experience of seeing;
The runners emerged from the trees into his clear vision
He had a visual sensation of intense light
Vision
The formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses;
Popular imagination created a world of demons
Imagination reveals what the world could be
Vision
A religious or mystical experience of a supernatural appearance;
He had a vision of the Virgin Mary
Vision
A mental image or concept.
The artist's vision came to life in her paintings.
Vision
An experience of seeing someone or something in a dream.
She had a vision of her late grandmother.
Common Curiosities
Can someone have "Ambition" but lack "Vision"?
Yes, they might have the drive but lack a clear direction or end goal.
Is "Vision" only about the future?
Primarily, but it can also be a present understanding guiding future actions.
Is "Ambition" always viewed positively?
No, excessive "Ambition" can sometimes be seen as greed or ruthlessness.
Does "Vision" have to be grand or large-scale?
Not necessarily; it's about clarity, whether for a simple project or a life's mission.
Do you need both "Vision" and "Ambition" to succeed?
Yes, "Vision" gives direction, while "Ambition" provides the drive.
Can "Vision" change over time?
Absolutely, as one grows, their "Vision" for the future might evolve.
Is "Ambition" about competing with others?
Not always; it can be about personal growth and self-fulfillment.
How is "Vision" related to goals?
"Vision" sets the broader picture, while goals are specific milestones towards realizing that vision.
How do leaders communicate their "Vision"?
Through storytelling, goal-setting, and aligning their team's values and aspirations.
Can you achieve your "Vision" without "Ambition"?
It's challenging since "Ambition" provides the motivation to pursue your vision.
Is "Ambition" tied to one's career only?
No, "Ambition" can relate to personal goals, hobbies, or other aspects of life.
Can "Ambition" be taught?
It's inherent but can be nurtured and encouraged with the right environment and mindset.
Is "Ambition" linked to confidence?
Often, yes. A confident person might have a clearer sense of their ambitions.
How can one refine their "Vision"?
Through reflection, research, feedback, and experience.
Can a company or organization have a "Vision"?
Absolutely, many companies set a "Vision" statement to guide their future direction.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
