In America today, the standard way of calculating success is in terms of material gain. Wealth and acquisition of bigger and better possessions are the driving force behind our culture as well as our capitalist economy. “Keeping up with the Jones’s” is a familiar cliché that accurately describes the goals of the average American for the latest and greatest and the biggest and the best. This is how most people believe we are measured in society. 19th Century American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson had a different concept of success, however. Emerson says “To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better…to know one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ("Ralph Waldo Emerson")
Emerson’s notions of success are not based on the acquisition of material possessions, but on higher minded ideas such as earned respect from one’s peers and the value of contributing to the greater wellbeing of one’s community. I believe that Emerson’s perception of success is far superior to the traditional American model. Materialism perpetuates a vicious cycle of consumerism and debt, the very sort of cycle that has facilitated the current dire state of America’s economy. Adherences to the high minded notions of respect, genuine affection, and community building that Emerson espouses, however, can only contribute to making the world a better place.
A perfect example of the repercussions of materialism exits within my own family dynamic. My mother grew up in an affluent family. Her father was a pro...
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...age money responsibly and serve others is like being able to use electric current in a productive manner. We can become powerful transformers for the currency of society. How we use that power is a great responsibility.”
The ideas of both of these 21st century authors corresponds with Emerson’s notion of success based on leaving the world a better place, not simply acquiring more things. Likewise, the empty relationship with my mother’s materialistic family versus the rewarding bond I share with my father’s family clearly illustrates the fundamental truth in Emerson’s quote. Measuring success by wealth and gain only serves to drive people apart and perpetuate a shallow, incomplete view of the world focusing on the high minded ideals Emerson espouses; genuine affection, finding the best in one another, and appreciating beauty, that is the true measure of success.
Booker T. Washington once reminiscently wrote, "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome" (Washington). Washington's conviction that success is to be defined by tenacity and achievements throughout one's lifetime directly corroborates David Brooks's credence that success derives from a sound work ethic and perseverance as demonstrated in his article, "A Nation of Grinders." The speaker, who is typified as philosophical and sage, argues to an audience comprised of average American citizens striving for prosperity, that success is not merely calculated based on materialistic possessions but rather by the acquisition of knowledge, experience, memories, and happiness throughout the span of an entire life. In rebelling against the traditional connotation of success, which is worldliness and superficiality, Brooks redefines success as the amassing of happiness through diligence throughout a lifetime. In his article, "A Nation of Grinders," Brooks utilizes histrionic allusions, insightful analogies, and cogent logos to generate a didactic tone which contributes his redefinition of success as the accumulation of memories and experience through hard work and unyielding ethics.
It seems our definition of success is related to our own individuality. Our view of success is rooted in the outcome of competition among individuals. Americans seem quick to claim that we have each succeeded through their o...
From a young age, our parents teach us to be grateful for what we have. However, as human beings and Americans, we * find it difficult to be content with what we consider “less.” Much of the American Dream revolves around success, and in general, the more you have, whether it is money, possessions, or relationships, the more successful you are. The American value of achievement often results in selfishness, once described by William E. Gladstone as “the greatest curse of the human race” (William E. Gladstone quotes, 2010). Collectively, The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath demonstrate how selfishness breaks society, affecting both the individual as well as those around him, and how selflessness repairs it.
Living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, our culture has naturally valued prestige and luxuries. We admire fancy items and often judge other individuals by the clothes they wear, the car they drive, and the schools that they attend. The “American Dream” serves as a motivational factor for people; believing that hard work and dedication can bring “success” to ones’ life. Although this is partially true, it is difficult for individuals in the middle class and lower class.
of society spend the majority of their time working, rather than enjoying the wealth they have already acquired. Emerson is trying to say that we should stop and appreciate what we have, rather than spend our time trying to obtain more. After all, how can one fully enjoy what they have, when they are too busy trying to acquire more. Emerson hints that we should not spend our lives preparing for life rather than living life. Throughout our lives it’s common to see people with high goals, but never tackle them head on.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. The American Scholar ; Self-reliance ; Compensation. N.p.: American Book, 1893. Print.
Charles Kuralt once said that “The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” Charles exemplifies how wealth is insignificant in comparison to the bonds created by families and friends. Families are formed by an unbreakable bond of love, and in modern times, the need of a strong family bond seems more and more prevalent because of the world that we live in, and the constant threat of danger looming above our heads. This has brought families even closer together. People value their family more than anything else. Although people may dream about money, the American Dream is about family and love and making sacrifices for your family.
A penny saved may be a penny earned, just as a penny spent may begin to better the world. Andrew Carnegie, a man known for his wealth, certainly knew the value of a dollar. His successful business ventures in the railroad industry, steel business, and in communications earned him his multimillion-dollar fortune. Much the opposite of greedy, Carnegie made sure he had what he needed to live a comfortable life, and put what remained of his fortune toward assistance for the general public and the betterment of their communities. He stressed the idea that generosity is superior to arrogance. Carnegie believes that for the wealthy to be generous to their community, rather than live an ostentatious lifestyle proves that they are truly rich in wealth and in heart. He also emphasized that money is most powerful in the hands of the earner, and not anyone else. In his retirement, Carnegie not only spent a great deal of time enriching his life by giving back; but also often wrote about business, money, and his stance on the importance of world peace. His essay “Wealth” presents what he believes are three common ways in which the wealthy typically distribute their money throughout their life and after death. Throughout his essay “Wealth”, Andrew Carnegie appeals to logos as he defines “rich” as having a great deal of wealth not only in materialistic terms, but also in leading an active philanthropic lifestyle. He solidifies this definition in his appeals to ethos and pathos with an emphasis on the rewards of philanthropy to the mind and body.
Moreover, this concept of free will and becoming financially self-reliant is still prevalent in modern society. The mid-twentieth (20th) to the early twenty-first (21st) century has become the age of entrepreneurship, where peoples from all nations no longer desire to work “for the man” but create their own legacy of prosperity. Likewise, it is a period in time that has redefined the way in which those from all walks of life can obtain success and wealth. Hence, the evolution of reality TV stars, YouTube sensations and rappers from being ordinary individuals to becoming fashion designers, actors and CEOs. However, our definition of success is not only defined by wealth it also includes having a life of meaning that is similar to that of Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. and Malcolm X. Certainly, I am speaking of a life that encompasses the ability to change our world for the better.
...hat materialistic attitudes are harmful to one's well-being. “The psychological perspective attributes the development of materialistic values to family circumstances that create stress and self esteem issues that promote materialistic values,” (Hung Vu Nguyen.) Many people in our culture attribute material goods to personal achievement. Truth rings true with Bertrand Russell’s statement “It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” Even at young ages children are competing and bragging to one another of who has more possessions. Past studies by Rindfleisch say that materialism developed over time as a response to stress due to family issues such as divorce, separation, and loss of loved ones. Materialism leads consumers to put a disproportionate amount of their resources into acquiring goods.
Nearly two hundred years ago Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered a speech to a group of Scholars, it was his intention to motivate and inspire. He expressed his beliefs in a way that was objectionable to some and encouraging to others. Each man was given a chance to examine his life and the life's of their predecessors.
Destiny is not arranged by God anymore in Franklin and Emerson’s view, so that develop individual self’s desire of exploring their potentials becomes necessary to succeed. Withholding various definitions of success, Benjamin Franklin and Ralph Waldo Emerson coincidentally stick with the same principle: everyone can succeed if he or she works hard enough. They have controversies over what is success, but the spirit of upward mobility exits in both of the authors and the time
Materialism leads people to be financially irresponsible. People are more likely to buy certain products because
To Henry David Thoreau, the society’s preoccupation with money and wealth seems to be foolish in that they are transient and they costs humanity. Hence, he recommends a life excluding all superfluities. Owning more than the indispensable only distracts a person from seeing the very truth of life. He asks people to establish a goal of life rather than just chasing money. He urges people to “discover that they did not live.”
Although it has been said that money is the root of all evil, many people actually believe that they would be happier if they were wealthier. Could this be correct? This essay will support the thesis that not only does the pursuit of wealth not lead to happiness; it may actually make us unhappy.