Are there any Italian words which describe being arrogant as in wanting to do stuff or achieve something regarded as hard by others, with such word or words having a positive connotation?
For instance: ambizioso. Here is what the Devoto Oli has to say about it:
Dominato dall'ambizione {so basically as though "possessed" by ambition: I read this as a negative connotation. And then the example:} pochi ambiziosi dichiareranno giustizia e pubblica necessità quello che non è se non capriccio e ambizione loro {so, as though by chance, the example also points out a negative attitude towards the (so-called) "ambiziosi", and then...}
Che rivela un eccesso di ottimismo e presunzione (eg. progetto ambizioso).
What I am finding is that many, if not most, Italian words involving ambition as part of their dictionary definitions, end up having at least one quasi-neutral and one totally negative hue.
For instance, the saying "andarono come i pifferi di montagna" is an example of this: it is used to depict people who were too sure of their strengths {hence, arrogant}, and were subsequently defeated. This is just one example of how the Italian language always tends to view arrogance in a negative light.
Is it not so?
EDIT:
baldanza:
- disinvolta fiducia in sé stesso e nella fortuna: la naturale baldanza dei giovani; anche, presunzione, spavalderia.