"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough…

“Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “Ambition a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy” was posted on the newsgroup rec.humor.funny on August 4, 1989.

Authorship is unknown. The saying has been credited to American actor, comedian and radio performer Edgar Bergen (1903-1978), American stand-up comedian Steven Wright (born 1955) and even Czech author Milan Kundera (born 1929), but it is unlikely that one of these three famous people is the author. The early citations of the saying do not credit any author.

“Ambition is for those who don’t have enough sense to be lazy http://twitpic.com/9h2x4e” was posted on Twitter by Ron Regan on May 4, 2012. “Ambition is for people who don’t have enough sense to be lazy” was posted on Twitter by Jonah Cohen on June 8, 2014.

Google Groups: rec.humor.funny
Collection of cute sayings.
Michael J. Irvin, WSU, 509/335-0437
Aug 4, 1989, 6:30:05 AM
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.
A king’s castle is his home.
A penny saved is ridiculous.
All that glitters has a high refractive index.
Ambition a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

Google Groups: eunet.jokes
cool quotes
Claudia Heyman
Jul 19, 1995, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
* Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

Google Groups: uk.media.tv.misc
cyber.cafe first programme…oh dear
Adewale Oshineye
Jul 2, 1996, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Adewale Oshineye
Ambition is a poor excuse
for not having enough sense to be lazy.

24 October 1997, The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN),“C. A. Eye” edited by Jon W. Sparks, pg. C1:
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

Google Groups: alt.support.atn-deficit
HUMOR: One liners
Jennifer Snow Wolff
Jan 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

Google Books
The Mammoth Book of Comic Quotes
By Geoff Tibballs
London, UK: Constable & Robinson Ltd
2004
Pg. ?:
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
CHARLIE MCCARTHY (EDGAR BERGEN)

Twitter
Qiqo Simbol
@qiqo
Ambition is a lame excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
7:30 AM · Apr 16, 2007·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Siddhartha Reddy
@sids
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
2:28 AM · Aug 2, 2007·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Robert Cerff
@rhcerff
Thought for the day: “Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy” - Steven Wright
2:04 AM · Aug 12, 2008·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Ivan M. Granger
@PoetryChaikhana
Friday philosophy from Facebook friend: “Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.” -Milan Kundera
1:50 PM · May 1, 2009·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Gerry Viz
@gerryviz
∞Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
-Edgar Bergen∞
6:36 AM · Mar 14, 2010·iSocialize+ for iPhone

Twitter
Ron Regan
@ronniereego
Ambition is for those who don’t have enough sense to be lazy http://twitpic.com/9h2x4e
4:25 AM · May 4, 2012·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Jonah Cohen
@realjayco
Ambition is for people who don’t have enough sense to be lazy
10:28 PM · Jun 8, 2014·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
rusty barrow
@rustyoldbarrow
Ambition is for people who don’t have enough sense to be lazy
#jokes
#joke
#Wednesday
#Ireland
3:55 PM · Nov 19, 2014·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Bob Kostic
@causticbob
Ambition is for people who don’t have enough sense to be lazy.
5:06 PM · Nov 19, 2014·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Bob Kostic
@causticbob
Ambition is for people who don’t have enough sense to be lazy.
7:15 PM · Nov 19, 2020·Twitter Web App