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.
In the article, "A Nation of Grinders," Brooks uses sagacious allusions as well as a pedagogic tone to accentuate the fact that the societal perception of success as being comprised of monetary accumulation is flawed and that success or joy is ultimately bred by assiduity. By constantly referencing a multitude of prominent historical figures the author is able to effectively generate common ground with his audience as well as make analogies that they find relatable through the usage ...
... middle of paper ...
... understanding amongst his audience and enhancing his instructive tone. When the speaker meditatively states, "As the Yuppie was to the 80s... maybe Abraham Lincoln could be for the coming decade" he utilizes his academic tone as well as the analogy of Lincoln to the Yuppie, to effectively emphasize the fact that he views Lincoln as paragon of his own definition success, as arising from hard work, which further develops ethos through his allusion to the prominent historical figure that is Abraham Lincoln. By employing both an illustrative allusion as well as a thought provoking analogy as well as his scholastic tone the author is able to make the audience more likely to accept his definition of success as deriving from hard work and sound work ethics due to his development of common ground which results in general understanding of his assertion within his audience.
“I have learned that 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 while trying to succeed.” This quote is by Booker T. Washington. In the book “Up from Slavery” Mr. Washington was a poor African American man who wanted an education. He was able to peruse an education, through hard work and perseverance. Then he wanted to help others also receive an education, by building a school.
For centuries, the American Dream has motivated citizens of the United States to go above and beyond in their efforts through life, yet not everyone is hoping to reach the same outcome. The stereotypical prosperous dream was for the average individual to have a successful job with a supportive and wealthy family. However, for some, their idealized version of the American Dream is different. Although the American Dream came in variations, a commonality within all of them was the pursuit of happiness. In the epilogue of The Epic of America, James Truslow Adams argues his idea that the American Dream cannot be defined by one type of accomplishment or triumph. He claims that the American Dream cannot be defined by one type of achievement or particular success, reiterating the fact that the dream is not about tangible goods creating a sense of artificial happiness, but every individual seeking to fulfill their utmost potential. Adams saw that the American Dream was eroding into a need for material possessions, causing him to combat the shift and attempt to preserve the original idea. This theory is echoed in Jeannette Walls’ memoir, The Glass Castle. Despite being hindered by
Throughout the ages, men and women have been the center of myths and legends, becoming tragic heroes in large part due to the embellishment bestowed upon them over the ages. Perhaps, though, truth can be stranger than fiction. Pat Tillman was a man of many talents and virtues, never satisfied by the mediocre, striving for more excitement, more meaning, in his tragically short time on Earth, and lived out the phrase carpe diem to the letter. Even Pat Tillman had tragic flaws; his unwillingness to be average, his undying loyalty to family and country, and his unusually concrete set of morals all eventually led to his death. These, whatever the outcome might have been, are not, by any means, archetypical tragic flaws. They are, as Jon Krakauer later described, “tragic virtues.” Where Men Win Glory is not solely a tribute to Pat Tillman. What makes it truly unique is its exhaustively comprehensive history leading up to Pat’s death, and just as important, the events that took place after his death, including the cover-ups, scandals, corruption, falsified documents, and lies that helped, also, to emphasize the themes, of which Pat was the epitome. Pat’s loyalty and devotion to the things that he loved, the use of misinformation surrounding his death, and others’ reactions to what Pat considered paramount in his life all played a key role in the tragedy of a man that won glory.
...your own personal idea of success. Gatsby's ideas of successful maybe have become corrupted with greedy but that does not mean it lives on now. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Fitzgerald, Pg. 189) striving for the real American dream of personal success.
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...
In the general view today, the majority of people have come to assume that the building blocks of achievement are in the realm of possibility with the charisma and character of the individual. Contrary to this belief, Malcolm Gladwell proclaims in his novel Outliers that achievements are shaped by foreign forces in which certain people are granted particular opportunities and advantages that not everybody is given by chance. In spite of this his formula carries strong evidence in terms of these asserted forces like blatant lucky opportunities, date of birth, and family background assisting to pave the road for achieving success, Gladwell openly dodges the expense of hard-work and persistence. Gladwell’s theory of acquiring success holds some legitimacy, yet he purposely leaves out the quality of a person's individual effort within his analyses. The heart of success is within one's ability to endure through difficulties and misfortune as opposed to it solely being a matter of people taking advantage of various outside
The notorious and capable Al Capone once commented, “This American system of ours, call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you will, gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it.” “This American system,” as referred to by Capone, is not simply one idea alone but a conglomerate of all ideals held to represent the American culture: capitalism, freedom, and opportunity. These ideals go hand in hand with each other; freedom allows for capitalism to flourish and, in turn, allows equal opportunity for every citizen. However, the key to success in the American system is not simply available by going through the motions of life, but rather requires determination, will, and an urge to succeed and capitalize on every opportunity provided to us. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Gatsby, the poverty-stricken army officer turned eccentric millionaire, proves that the American system is one that does not discriminate between the rich and the poor, or by creed, or even by race, but allows for equal opportunity for all, supporting those with ambition and drive, while punishing those who lack purpose and initiative, one where everyone has a chance for greatness if they have the drive and initiative to seize that opportunity and “make the most of it” and that the resulting success derived from that motivation erases the significance of one’s background.
“The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race.” These wise words were spoken by Booker T. Washington, who was born a slave and, soon after, was emancipated. At a young age, he started work to help his poor family. Later on, he worked as a teacher and that later led to the founding and building of Tuskegee University. Washington’s heritage taught him to be a hard worker, he worked hard for his education and it paid off in the end when he was able to support his wife and children.
For a long time, the popular myth of success and that of gender have shaped humans’ minds and behaviors in a certain way. They set up a certain behavior model and provide people with an idealized reference for living their lives. However, people put too much emphasis on the bright side of these two widespread but outdated beliefs, and surround themselves in ideal images constructed by the myths. With humans and society marching on, the age-old and deep-rooted myths are not completely suitable anymore. The old fashioned myths have become certain clichés. They sometimes conceal important social realities and convey a false image of what people really think and do. The dissonance between myth and reality sometimes disillusions people and may bring worse outcomes to the society. Wayne Dyer, an internationally renowned author declares, “What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.” Although part of the myths is still valuable and instructive, in order to make them more tenable, people need to be cautious and critical and be aware of their weakness. Success should be defined not only by wealth and reputation, as the current myth states, but also by personal happiness, which can be achieved through the combination of honesty, hard work, opportunities and s...
Throughout the ages, men and women have been at the heart of myths and legends, evolving into tragic heroes in large part due to the embellishment bestowed upon them over the ages. From Odysseus and Achilles to Brutus, Hamlet, and King Lear, epic poems have revolved around the tragic hero. Pat Tillman was a man of many aptitudes and virtues, never satisfied by the mediocre, striving for more adventure, more meaning, in his tragically short time on Earth, and personifying the phrase carpe diem. Even Pat Tillman had tragic flaws; his unwillingness to be typical, his undying loyalty to family and country, and his curiously concrete set of morals amalgamated to set in motion Tillman’s eventual death. These, whatever the outcome might have been, are not by any means, the archetypical tragic flaws. They are, as Jon Krakauer later described, “tragic virtues.” Where Men Win Glory is not solely a tribute to Pat Tillman. What makes it truly unique is its exhaustively comprehensive history preceding Tillman’s death, and equally essential, the events that transpired following his death, including the cover-ups, scandals, corruption, falsified documents, indignities, and lies that facilitated, also, in emphasizing the core themes, of which Tillman was the epitome. Tillman’s fidelity and devotion to the people whom he loved, the use of misinformation and cants surrounding his death, and others’ responses to what Tillman considered paramount in his life all played a key role in the tragedy of a man who won glory.
One way that success is conveyed is through the use of phrases that show how some people are motivated by success, such as when Miranda says, “History has its eyes.../ on.../ you!” (page 84, line 120-122, “Non-Stop”). He uses personification to show that the steps they do now will grant them a legacy and, with it, fame. Also, he directs the message to one individual person when saying this, causing it to be more personal by saying “you”. Together, this shows that success can both harm and benefit a person since the person will always be looked down by higher, more powerful people to evaluate their fame and success; and that some people want to become more successful.
The definition of success varies around the world, but according to Malcolm Gladwell its achievement can be broken down into a few components. Although Gladwell never truly establishes credibility in his book Outliers, he still backs up his proposed theories with reputable studies and sources which intrigue the audience to keep reading.The purpose of Outliers was to enlighten people about the different elements of success while also informing them of real life situations where seemingly less than likely people beat the odds and became the powerful figures that they are today. The intended audience is anyone who is looking to become successful or who is perhaps interested in the idea of success itself and wishes to learn more about it. Understandably, a secondary audience could be high school students who are about to venture out into the world on their own because with this book they will hopefully start paying attention to different factors of their lives and seizing opportunities that they may have otherwise passed up. Malcolm Gladwell talks about the 10,000 Hour Rule and also how I.Q. does not amount to much without creativity. He also speaks of how chance opportunity comes into play and that the distant background of a person still reflects how they handle situations in their present day life. Gladwell’s Outliers successfully informs the reader about the different components that add up to success with probable theories and credible studies to make for an interesting and motivational read.
If people work hard, focus, and are disciplined, they will succeed in the future. This has become a universal idea taught by parents, teachers, and peers. People have passed down this idea to the younger generations and they chose to live by this moral that makes sense. In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell debunks the universal idea that working hard will allow people to play hard and get further in life. Gladwell eliminates the traditional ideas of success by showing that opportunities, family background, and being born at the “right” time are actually what lead to success.
...nt of maturity. In addition, both authors think that matured readers in general are harder to persuade compared to younger readers (those at the of 16 to 18). This is why both Franklin and Douglass intentionally set their "rebellion stage" at the age of 17. This is to encourage the "less stable" teenage readers to dare do something different and to not compromise with normality. This less-stableness would enable these teenage readers to be more receptive to radical ideas. With this thought in mind and armed with Americans vulnerability in believing the rags-to-riches myth, Franklin and Douglass are able generated effective and persuasive narrations.With such effective writing prose, the authors created well-fabricate compositions which modeled upon the "rags-to-riches" chronology.These are the myths, Americans live by them and the country survives with them. Thus, it is the American Dream.
In Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers, he analyzes the factors that contribute to high levels of success. To support his thesis, he examines the causes of why the majority of Canadian hockey players are born in the first few months of the year, how Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates achieved his extreme wealth, how the Beatles became one of the most successful musical acts, and how cultural legacy plays a large part in society. On the back of the book, David Leonhardt explains, “In understanding successful people, we have come to focus far too much on their intelligence and ambition and personality traits. Instead Malcolm Gladwell argues in Outliers, we should look at the world that surrounds the successful – their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing.” Besides telling the stories of the many successors, he gives adv...