Ambition Should Be Made of Sterner Stuff

I don't remember how old I was, but I remember at the time we were doing something in class where we were supposed to assign one of ten attributes to each of our classmates. At the end the results were compiled, and we could all see which (almost all positive) attributes best described us.

The overwhelming response to which attribute best described me was, "Ambitious."

I was young enough that although I had a pretty good idea of what ambition was, I decided since it's the attribute that apparently described me the best according to my classmates, I would look up the official definition. I'm sure I found something not far removed from this:

am·bi·tion/amˈbiSHən/

Noun:

A strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. Desire and determination to achieve success

Yeah! I'm a hard worker who is determined. Take that, mom!

Yet ambition also can have a negative connotation (or denotation), depending on the context in which it is used. (Interestingly enough if you do a Google search for "ambition negative connotation" the first result quotes Julius Caesar).

"Ambition makes you look pretty ugly." - Radiohead -- Paranoid Android.

Ambition is one of those few words in the English language that can be used just as easily when complimenting someone as when criticizing someone.

"Look at how ambitious that little boy is. He'll go on to great things."
"What an ambitious little #@$%!"

This modern day connotation of the word makes the funeral speech of Antony that much more amazing. Antony is placed in an odd position where he is supposed to praise Caesar, yet praise those who murdered him. Undoubtedly the word "ambition" in this context is used in the negative sense, but Antony's words make "ambitious" seem like the least likely word to describe Caesar.

He was my friend, faithful and just to me.
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honourable man.
...
When the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
...
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honourable man.
...
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And sure he is an honourable man.

And he ends it with a bang. How can you call a man who denied a crown three times, "Ambitious?" Was he really striving for fame and glory, or was he just great enough that he was destined for it? This theme ran throughout the play. Is it our fate, or our cunning?