Follow your passion. Nothing - not wealth, success, accolades or

The wise teacher Jonathan Sacks once spoke with clarity of spirit: “Follow your passion. Nothing—not wealth, success, accolades or fame—is worth spending a lifetime doing things you don’t enjoy.” These words strike like a bell across the ages, reminding us that life’s greatest treasure is not measured in coin or crowns, but in the joy of labor that sings to the heart. For to live without passion is to live half-asleep, no matter how gilded the cage; but to live with passion is to awaken fully, even in humble circumstances.

The ancients themselves knew this truth. The Stoics taught that a man’s life is only as rich as the harmony between his work and his soul. The Bhagavad Gita speaks of dharma—one’s sacred calling—as the path that gives meaning beyond mere survival. And in every tradition, from East to West, there runs the same wisdom: wealth, fame, and even the applause of men fade like mist, but the flame of passion endures, lighting the way through even the darkest nights.

Consider the story of Vincent van Gogh. He knew neither riches nor recognition in his lifetime. By worldly measures, he was a failure. Yet he followed his passion with unshakable devotion, painting with fire in his heart, even as poverty and despair pressed upon him. His reward was not wealth but the joy of creation, the deep fulfillment of expressing his soul on canvas. And though he never lived to see it, the world was transformed by the very works born of his suffering and his passion. Here is the living proof of Sacks’ teaching: to follow passion is to leave a legacy far greater than fleeting rewards.

In contrast, how many souls have spent their days chained to work they despised, driven only by the pursuit of success or fear of failure? They may gather wealth, they may earn the respect of peers, yet in the silence of their hearts they find only emptiness. What use is fame if it costs the joy of the soul? What use are accolades if one’s days are wasted in toil without meaning? Jonathan Sacks calls us back to wisdom: better a life of struggle with joy than a life of ease without it.

The lesson is not that wealth, recognition, or success are evil, but that they are hollow when divorced from passion. When your work is aligned with your joy, these things may come naturally, as shadows follow light. But if you chase them directly, neglecting your inner fire, you may gain the world and lose yourself. Passion is the fountain; all else are streams. Without the fountain, the streams will run dry.

For us, the teaching is clear: seek out what stirs your heart, and dare to follow it. Ask yourself not, “What will make me rich?” but, “What will make me alive?” Do not wait for the perfect moment, for it never comes; begin with what you have, and let your passion grow through action. Even if the road is difficult, the joy of walking it will sustain you longer than gold ever could.

Practically, this means listening deeply to your inner voice. Reflect on what brings you energy, not what drains it. Take small steps toward weaving passion into your daily work, even if at first it seems only a thread. Surround yourself with those who inspire and uplift, for passion thrives in fellowship as well as solitude. Above all, do not surrender your years to lifeless labor when your heart yearns for something more.

Thus, let Jonathan Sacks’ words resound through the generations: follow your passion, for nothing else endures. Wealth fades, accolades are forgotten, and fame dies with time. But a life lived in joy, in love for one’s work, becomes eternal, leaving not only memories but inspiration for those who come after. To live with passion is to live truly—and that, above all, is success.