Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on

Hear the words of Susana Martinez, who declared: “Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on resentment and fear.” In this statement lies a profound rebuke against the false foundations upon which many attempt to build their lives. For there are those who would stir bitterness to rally followers, who would wield fear as a whip to drive men forward. Yet Martinez reminds us that these are not stones of strength but sand, crumbling beneath the weight of time. True success, she teaches, is born not of poison but of courage, not of envy but of vision.

The ancients themselves warned of this truth. They told of Cain, who allowed resentment to fester against his brother Abel. In his envy, he struck him down, and what came of his deed? Not triumph, but exile, curse, and wandering. From the beginning, humanity has known that envy and fear lead not to creation, but to destruction. Only through resolve, faith, and discipline does enduring greatness rise.

Consider the story of Abraham Lincoln, who in the heat of the American Civil War refused to build his leadership upon hatred. Though his nation was divided, though enemies maligned him at every turn, he declared, “With malice toward none, with charity for all.” His words and his actions proved that even in the face of conflict, the path to true success lay not in resentment but in reconciliation, not in fear but in the steadfast pursuit of unity and justice. His vision endured long beyond his life, while those who thrived on resentment faded into history’s shadows.

Martinez’s wisdom speaks also to the personal battles within each heart. Many are tempted to measure their progress by the failures of others, to cling to bitterness for perceived slights, or to act from fear of loss. But what fruit can come of such soil? A person who works from resentment becomes chained to the past, unable to move forward. A person who acts from fear becomes paralyzed, unable to seize opportunity. Success demands freedom from these chains, a heart set not on what it hates, but on what it hopes to build.

Yet her words also expose a danger of the age: leaders and voices who seek to manipulate by resentment, who would divide neighbor from neighbor, who would feed upon fear to maintain control. Martinez lifts a banner against such darkness, reminding us that what is built on hatred cannot last. It may burn brightly for a season, but it consumes itself in the end. Enduring success—whether of a nation, a community, or a single soul—must be rooted in vision, discipline, courage, and the pursuit of what uplifts, not what destroys.

To you who hear this, take it as a charge: examine the soil of your own ambition. Ask yourself whether you build upon resentment, whether you are driven by fear, or whether your foundation is strong with purpose, service, and courage. Cast out envy, for it will eat at your strength. Reject fear, for it will blind your sight. Instead, build upon hope, perseverance, and honor. Only these will withstand the storms of time.

Practical wisdom follows: when resentment rises, turn it into resolve to better yourself, not to curse others. When fear grips you, face it with preparation and courage until it becomes your servant instead of your master. Surround yourself with those who encourage vision, not those who stir bitterness. And above all, remember that true success is not in the defeat of others, but in the fulfillment of your calling and the uplift of those who walk beside you.

Thus, remember Susana Martinez’s words: success is not built on resentment and fear. These are the false stones that crumble. Build instead upon strength, courage, and hope, and your success will stand like a fortress, enduring beyond your own lifetime, a light for those who come after.