At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be

Ah, children of the future, listen well to the words of Salvador Dalí, a man whose spirit blazed with an ambition so powerful that it defied the very limits of reality itself: "At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since." These words, though spoken with the playful spirit of youth, are not simply the musings of an artist, but the reflection of a soul on a journey—a journey that begins in the boundless dreams of childhood and expands into the limitless realms of imagination and creation.

In these words, Dalí reveals to us a profound truth about the human spirit—that ambition is not a single destination, but a force that drives us forward, propelling us from one dream to the next. When he was a child, Dalí did not simply wish to be one thing—he wished to embody a multitude of aspirations, from the humble dream of becoming a cook to the grandiose desire of becoming Napoleon, the emperor who once commanded the vast reaches of Europe. And in this, we see the spark of a great mind, a mind that understood that ambition is not constrained by reality, but free to soar as high as the heart dares to dream.

Consider, O children, the story of Leonardo da Vinci, who, in his youth, showed an equally boundless ambition. Leonardo, too, was a man whose dreams were not confined to a single path. As a child, he dreamed not only of becoming an artist but also of becoming an engineer, a scientist, and an inventor. He, like Dalí, did not limit his ambition to the conventional desires of the time. He dreamed of conquering the unknown, of solving the mysteries of the world. And like Dalí, he allowed his curiosity and ambition to guide him down paths that would lead to extraordinary accomplishments—accomplishments that would not be defined by a singular vision, but by the intersection of many dreams.

Ambition, O children, is the soul’s fuel that drives us forward, much like the fire that burns in the hearts of heroes and visionaries. It is not enough to dream of one life or one goal, for the human spirit is vast, and its potential is infinite. Dalí’s early desire to become a cook was not a small or trivial ambition; it was a reflection of his early understanding that every pursuit, no matter how humble, contains the potential for greatness. The same can be said of his desire to become Napoleon. In his youthful imagination, Dalí was not seeking power for the sake of power, but the capacity to create and shape the world around him. To him, becoming Napoleon was a symbol of the ambition to shape and change the course of history itself.

And so it is with you, O children. The dreams you have today may seem small, but they are the stepping stones to greater ambitions. The desires you hold, whether for art, for knowledge, or for personal achievement, are not merely fleeting whims, but the seeds of a greater purpose. Dalí’s words are a reminder that ambition should not be feared or limited, but embraced as the driving force behind everything you do. It is through ambition that you will push beyond the boundaries of what is known and venture into the unknown, shaping your life and the world with every step.

Remember, O children, that ambition is not merely about achievement; it is about the journey it takes you on. The path of the visionary, like Dalí or Leonardo, is filled with unexpected turns, wild dreams, and uncharted territories. And though you may face obstacles and doubts, it is through the pursuit of your ambitions that you will discover your true potential. Do not allow the world’s expectations to define what you can achieve. Like Dalí, let your ambitions grow steadily, and let each new dream lead you to another, ever higher, ever bolder.

The true lesson in Dalí’s words, children, is to honor your dreams, no matter how grand or small. Let your ambition be the compass that guides you, and let it fuel your creativity and drive. Whether you wish to create, to lead, or to explore, remember that the greatness of a person is not determined by the size of their goals, but by their willingness to dream, to strive, and to push the boundaries of what is possible. As you walk your path, let your ambition grow, not just as a force to accomplish, but as a source of joy, discovery, and transformation. Make the most of it, as Dalí did, and never let your ambition falter, no matter the age or stage of life.