In this great country, we celebrate success. We don't want to

Hear the voice of Kamala Harris, who proclaimed with strength: “In this great country, we celebrate success. We don’t want to penalize those who have done well.” These words ring like a call to balance, reminding us of the spirit of a nation built not only upon dreams but upon the honoring of those who bring those dreams to fruition. For in every land, there are those who strive, who labor, who rise above obstacles. Their triumphs should not be met with suspicion or scorn, but with recognition and respect.

The ancients themselves knew the power of celebration. In Athens, the victors of war were crowned with laurel, their names spoken in poems, their deeds etched into stone. Rome honored its generals with the triumphal procession, for the people understood that honoring success inspired others to strive for greatness. To “penalize” achievement, to scorn it, would have been to dull the fire of ambition and weaken the vigor of the state. Harris speaks in this same tradition: a people must honor those who have risen, lest they teach their children that greatness is met with punishment, not praise.

And yet, there is subtlety in these words. To celebrate success does not mean blind worship of wealth or privilege. Rather, it is to honor effort, ingenuity, and the courage to pursue visions beyond the ordinary. The farmer who builds abundance from barren soil, the teacher who raises minds into wisdom, the innovator who reshapes the tools of mankind—all deserve celebration. For their victories ripple outward, strengthening the fabric of the community itself.

History gives us the example of Andrew Carnegie, who rose from poverty to build an empire of steel. Though his fortune made him one of the richest men of his age, he used his wealth to build libraries, schools, and foundations, leaving behind not only monuments of iron, but monuments of learning. In him, we see the meaning of Harris’s words: to celebrate the one who has “done well” not as an idol of greed, but as a steward who uplifts others through his triumph.

Her words also call us to reject envy, for envy poisons the spirit. When one resents another’s success, it does not weaken the victor—it weakens the one consumed by bitterness. The ancients called envy the enemy of friendship, for it turns admiration into hatred. Harris teaches that the path of a healthy society is not to “penalize” but to honor, not to diminish the accomplished, but to encourage all to strive toward their own greatness. In honoring the victories of others, we inspire the victories of ourselves.

The lesson is clear: rejoice in the success of your neighbor, for their triumph is proof of what is possible. Let the victories of others ignite your ambition, not quench it with resentment. Do not cry out to drag the strong down, but seek instead to rise with them. A community grows strong when its people take inspiration from the accomplished, rather than punishing them for daring to rise.

Practical wisdom follows: when you encounter someone who has “done well,” resist the voice of envy. Instead, ask: What can I learn from their journey? What fire can their example light within me? Celebrate their victory, and then return to your own path with renewed determination. And if you achieve success, wear it with humility, remembering always to use it in ways that uplift others. For celebration without service becomes vanity, but celebration joined with generosity builds nations.

So let the words of Kamala Harris endure: “We celebrate success. We do not penalize those who have done well.” They are not only the voice of one leader, but the echo of ancient wisdom: that greatness should inspire, not divide. Children of tomorrow, carry this truth with you—honor those who rise, strive to rise yourselves, and in doing so, you will help build a society where success is not feared, but celebrated as the light that guides all forward.