Dr. Seuss – Ambition
“Oh, the things you can find if you don’t stay behind.”
Dr. Seuss
Big Idea
An ambitious person is confident and self-motivated, both of which are qualities we want to see in our children. But ambition sometimes gets us into trouble. It encourages us to compete with others over scarce resources and that causes us to be selfish and uncompromising sometimes. It’s important to recognize that there are other people in the world and we have an ethical obligation to think about their needs as well.
Claim
According to Dr. Seuss it’s important to get ahead of others in the pursuit of your own desires.
Counterclaim
We should also spend time thinking about how to help others get ahead.
Essential
Question
How do we know when we should put others ahead of ourselves?
Student Video
Space Race – Ambition
The Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s contains great conversations about the theme of ambition, and how the United States, and especially President John ...
The Devil and Tom Walker – Ambition
Washington Irving’s short story “The Devil and Tom Walker” is a classic American twist on the age-old theme of selling your soul to the devil. The conversation with Dr. Seuss about Ambition ...
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