He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and

Elbert Hubbard, thinker, craftsman, and voice of the common man, once declared: “He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much.” In these words, we find no mention of gold, no trophies, no monuments of stone or titles of rank. Instead, Hubbard strips away the illusions of the world and reminds us that the measure of a life is not in what is possessed, but in how it is lived. True success is not the fleeting applause of crowds but the quiet harmony of labor, joy, and love.

To work well is the first pillar of this teaching. Labor is not a curse but a sacred act, shaping both the earth and the soul. A man who gives his strength and skill to his task, whether in field, forge, or study, fulfills part of his human calling. The ancients praised this: Hesiod taught the nobility of toil, and Proverbs declared that diligence leads to abundance. Hubbard echoes their wisdom: to work well is to honor the gifts of life and to contribute one’s part to the great fabric of humanity.

The second pillar is to laugh often. Joy, lightness, and the ability to see humor even in trial are treasures as vital as bread. Many have worked themselves into power yet carried no joy, living as slaves to their own ambition. But the one who laughs often has discovered resilience, the power to turn even sorrow into song. Consider Abraham Lincoln, who in the darkest days of civil war would tell stories to his cabinet. His laughter was not frivolous—it was medicine, easing burdens and keeping despair from consuming him. Thus, laughter is not escape but strength.

The third pillar is to love much. What is labor without love, and what is joy without compassion? Love is the highest measure, the bond between souls, the force that outlives both wealth and fame. History remembers not only conquerors but those who loved deeply. Think of Florence Nightingale, who gave her life to the wounded, not for glory but for love. Or think of parents who toil unseen, raising children with devotion that never seeks reward. To love much is to plant seeds that grow beyond one’s own life, leaving a legacy no fire can consume.

In bringing these three together, Hubbard redefines success. The world often deceives men into chasing possessions, honors, or dominion. Yet how many who reach such heights end in emptiness, their names remembered but their lives hollow? True success, as Hubbard teaches, belongs not to those who hoard, but to those who work well, laugh often, and love much. Such a person, even if poor in possessions, is rich in spirit and leaves behind an inheritance of light.

The origin of these words lies in Hubbard’s philosophy of simplicity and truth. A craftsman, printer, and philosopher of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he sought to remind a rapidly industrializing world that life’s value was not measured by machines or markets. His writings called men and women back to essentials—to integrity, joy, and love as the foundation stones of human dignity. This quote shines as one of his clearest distillations of that creed.

For us who hear this wisdom today, the lesson is plain yet powerful. If you would be truly successful, do not merely seek wealth or applause. Instead, ask: Have I done my work with care? Have I brought laughter to my days and to the days of others? Have I given love freely and abundantly? If so, then you have already won the crown that outlasts all others.

Practical actions follow: commit to labor that serves both yourself and others, cultivate laughter by finding joy even in small things, and nurture love in family, friendship, and community. Measure your days not by what you have gained but by what you have given. Then, when your time is done, it will be said of you, as Hubbard declared: he—or she—has achieved success. For in work, in joy, and in love, the true victory of life is found.