Some thoughts on success

'It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one. Fortune bestows the one, merit obtains the other.' The fourteenth century Italian scholar, Francesco Petrarch, to whom this statement must have been attributed must have watched in his own time men struggling to reach the top using all available means, fair or foul.

Human nature has not changed since then. Greed and covetousness prods a man to aspire for top honours whether he deserves or not. In the process he tramples on his colleagues and fellow workers leaving many bleeding and broken in the process. This is what we call the 'rat race' today. Perhaps this trend to succeed by hook or crook has given rise to the warning: "Success without merit spells disaster."

In a society, where merit is rewarded and hard work granted recognition, men are motivated to put in their best. Even non-Americans will vouch the fact that the American society owes its success to a system of rewarding merit and hard work without prejudices of race, creed or colour.

India, with it nepotism, prejudices and traditions make it difficult for the meritorious to get their dues. Here political and other connections, influence and status and manipulative ability count even more than merit and honest labour.

Growing up:
Children grow up with the impression that success is not a matter of merit. They find their elders trying to reach their fine goals through means that are not worthy of decent individuals. The message they get is that "the end justifies the means!"

The whole country is crying about the corrupt ways of the politician, bureaucrat and everyone else who matters. Every one is reaping the consequences of a system that has become very unjust and dishonest.

Our political scenario is also rife with examples of people who entered the legislatures with money power and muscle power; the criminal-politician nexus is much talked about. Allegations of evil alignments with profit motive are frequently made against law givers, law breakers and law keepers.

The latest 2 G spectrum scam involving top leaders of business and politics is a reflection of the rot that has taken deep roots. India has attained the number one position in the world as bribe givers; a ' tribute' to those corporate leaders working for business success. And none of them would be the worse for having tried underhand methods to beat competition.

The lottery business of state governments further promote the gambling spirit and all these are only catering to the get-rich-quick temptations of the youth. If cricket and fashion designing or even acting could bring you all the fame and money one could aspire for, why should any one be a scientist, doctor or engineer? Or for that matter, any profession that calls for hard work and efforts?

Awards
Authors, writers and artistes are also engaged in the game of manipulation to win awards. Some of the instances are very telling and too well known.

The temptation to contribute the least and grab the most from society is an ever present temptation for man. The great scientist Einstein, seeing this evil, defined success this way: "A successful man is he who receives a great deal from his fellowmen, usually incomparably more than corresponds to the service to them. The value of a man, however should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive." Hence his advice that everyone should attempt to become a man of value rather than a man of success.

Abraham Lincoln was another in the gallery of great men who had experienced an unlimited number of failures before achieving greatness. What did he say on success? "I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong."

The urge to reap where one has not sown, the tendency to grab more from society than what one has contributed is even part of the human nature. That explains the poor work culture as also the failure of public sector projects in our land.

Work ethics
We need to heed this resolution of one Washington Gladden in our work place: " One thing I am resolved upon, I will not be a sponge or a parasite. I will give an honest equivalent for what I get. I want no man's money for which I have not rendered a full return. I want no wages that I have not earned. If I work for any man or any company or any institution, I will render a full, ample, generous service. If I work for the city or the state or the nation, I will give my best thought, my best effort, my most conscientious and efficient endeavor. No man, no body of men, shall ever be made poorer by their dealings with me. If I can give a little more than I get every time, in that shall be my happiness.

The great commonwealth of human society shall not be loser through me. I will take good care to put into the common fund more than I take out."

If someone thinks that the rat race for success is something modern, he or she must go to a book like the Bible which throws light on ancient times. For instance, in Biblical times Prophet Micah warned those in Israel "who judge for a bribe, priests who teach for a price and prophets who tell fortunes for money" (Micah 3:11) while claiming to be closer to God.

The world has not always favoured character but has shown inclination to worship power, wealthand fame. In such an environment, those with manipulative skills, though without merit, manage to prosper. This is an indictment on society. John MacArthur, a theologian, has this to say about the world: "Its society is hostile to godliness; it is dominated by carnal ambition, by pride, by greed, by self pleasure, by evil desires. Its opinions are wrong; it aims are selfish; its pleasures are sinful; its influence is demoralizing; its policies are corrupt; its honours are empty; its smiles are fake; its love is fickle."

In such a context, the maxim, "I would rather be right than President" ( Henry Clay 1777-1852) is what approximates to the law written on the human heart by the Spirit of God who created everything.

Perhaps a reasonable definition of success, more relevant from the point of view of the common man is the one erroneously attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson but actually written by one Bessi Stanley: " 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 friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better, weather by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived---this is to have succeeded. We all will say amen.