A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive.

Bailey contrasts three states of living: mere existence without drive, striving without human warmth, and a fuller life that joins purpose to gratitude. “Ambition” stands for forward motion—goals, work, and self-direction—while “love” functions as the animating moral and emotional force that keeps striving from becoming hollow or destructive. The final clause, “love for his blessings here on earth,” adds a note of appreciation: vitality comes not only from wanting more, but from valuing what one already has. The quote thus frames aliveness as an integration of aspiration and affection—achievement tempered by gratitude and connection.