A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can

"A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man." – Lana Turner

In the halls of ancient wisdom, the measure of success has often been associated with wealth, power, and status. However, Lana Turner offers a reflection on success that combines both the external world of achievement and the internal world of relationships, highlighting the intricate dance between the roles of man and woman. In her words, she suggests that the successful man is one who has mastered the art of material wealth, creating a fortune that outpaces even the desires of those closest to him, especially his wife. Yet, she also reveals the subtle, almost playful power of the woman in this equation—success for her is not merely in the wealth itself, but in the wisdom to find and secure a man who can provide it. Through humor and wit, she speaks to the delicate balance between material success and the power of choice, relationship, and strategy.

To understand this, one must first recognize that success, in the eyes of the ancients, was often not measured merely by the material wealth a person could amass but by how they exercised their influence in the world. The great leaders—whether kings or philosophers—often spoke of wealth as a means to an end, a tool for power, influence, and the shaping of legacies. Cyrus the Great, for example, understood that wealth was not only about gold and silver but about the alliances he formed, the trust he built, and the influence he wielded. In Turner’s quote, the man’s wealth symbolizes more than financial gain; it signifies the capacity to provide, to create, and to shape the world around him through the force of his resources and success.

Yet, Turner’s quote also speaks to the power of wisdom and strategy in the woman’s role. She suggests that true success for a woman lies not in her ability to create wealth, but in her ability to recognize and secure a man who possesses it. This is no mere commentary on materialism, but rather an understanding of the power dynamics that have always existed in human society. The woman who can navigate the world of relationships, alliances, and personal connections—who understands what it means to find a partner who can provide stability and wealth—displays an acute understanding of the world’s dynamics and the ways in which partnerships shape one’s fate.

Consider the story of Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, whose intelligence, charm, and strategic mind allowed her to secure the powerful alliances with two of Rome’s most influential leaders—Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Her ability to align herself with the most powerful men of her time, not just for love but for the strategic advantages it offered, is a real-life example of the wisdom Turner speaks of. Cleopatra’s success was not solely tied to the wealth she wielded herself, but to the power she derived from alliances with men who could provide what she sought: stability, influence, and an enduring legacy. In this way, the concept of success for a woman, as Turner posits, transcends mere material wealth and touches on the deeper, more strategic wisdom of securing the right partnerships.

This quote also highlights a timeless truth about human nature: that we all seek balance between material success and personal fulfillment. Success, as the ancients understood, was never solely about the accumulation of riches; it was about the ability to balance one's ambitions with relationships, to harmonize power and partnerships. A man who possesses great wealth must also understand that his success is incomplete without those who are closest to him, without those who help him navigate the world, and without the wisdom to manage the forces that come with such power. A woman, too, must understand that true success lies not in mere possession, but in the ability to make choices that lead her to a prosperous and fulfilling life.

The lesson we can take from Lana Turner’s words is one of perspective and wisdom in both the roles we play in our relationships and in our pursuit of success. True success is not a simple equation of wealth or power alone; it is about how we navigate relationships, how we recognize opportunities, and how we create a life that reflects our deepest values. It is about understanding the power dynamics that exist between material wealth and human connection, and how both contribute to the fulfillment of our individual and shared destinies.

In our own lives, let us not seek success solely in the accumulation of wealth or the pursuit of influence, but in the wisdom to forge meaningful partnerships, in the ability to choose wisely, and in the recognition that the true power of success lies in the balance between individual achievement and shared growth. Like Cleopatra and the ancients, we must learn that success is a dance between strength and strategy, and the true measure of a successful life is not found in wealth alone, but in the relationships we build and the legacy we leave behind.