Thus when the ambitious man whose slogan was 'Either Caesar or nothing' does not become Caesar, he is in despair over it. But this signifies something else, namely, that precisely because he did not become Caesar he now cannot bear to be himself. Consequently he is not in despair over the fact that he did not become Caesar, but he is in despair over himself for the fact that he did not become Caesar.

Søren Kierkegaard. The Sickness Unto Death. 1849.