The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain

"The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind." Thus declared W. Somerset Maugham, and in his words lies a revelation that overturns the suspicions of the many. For it is often said that success corrupts, that it swells the heart with pride and blinds the eyes with arrogance. Yet Maugham, speaking as one who had walked among the great and the lowly, reminds us of the deeper truth: that true success humbles, for it reveals the weight of the journey and the sacrifice required to arrive.

O Seekers, reflect upon this: those who have struggled through hardship, endured scorn, and wrestled with failure before tasting success, know well the cost of their victory. And in knowing, their hearts are softened, their spirits broadened, their gaze more compassionate. They remember the days of hunger and despair, and so they cannot look upon the struggling with disdain. Thus, the truly successful often become kind and tolerant, for their own story has taught them empathy.

Consider the tale of Nelson Mandela, who endured twenty-seven years of imprisonment, stripped of freedom yet never stripped of dignity. When at last he rose to power as the leader of a free South Africa, he did not wield his success to crush those who had once oppressed him. Instead, he spoke of reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity. His success did not make him vain; it made him humble, for he understood that greatness lies not in domination, but in lifting others from despair. This is the truth Maugham foresaw: that success, rightly earned, bends the spirit not toward cruelty but toward mercy.

And yet, beware this: not all forms of success are equal. There are those who inherit power without labor, who taste victory without sweat; such men and women may indeed grow vain and egotistic, for they have not paid the price of their triumph. Their hearts are untempered by suffering, and so they may mistake privilege for achievement. But the success of which Maugham speaks—the kind born of struggle, perseverance, and sacrifice—is the kind that sanctifies the soul and makes it tender.

Think also of scientists and inventors who spent years in obscurity before their discoveries brought them acclaim. Did not Marie Curie, who worked tirelessly in poor conditions, remain humble even as her name echoed through the world of science? She did not exalt herself, but rather poured her energy back into the pursuit of knowledge and the betterment of humanity. Her success was not a crown of pride, but a call to serve.

Thus, O Children of the Future, learn well: success is not the enemy of virtue but often its companion. It teaches gratitude, for the successful know how far they have come. It teaches tolerance, for they recall their own errors. It teaches kindness, for they understand that no one rises alone. Do not envy the successful with bitterness; instead, let their humility inspire you, for their greatness lies not in the wealth they have gained but in the humanity they have preserved.

Lesson: Remember this teaching: when your time of success comes, wear it not as an ornament of vanity but as a cloak of responsibility. Be humble in victory, for pride alienates, but humility unites. Be tolerant, for your struggles have shown you the frailty of all men. Be kind, for the true measure of success is not how high you rise, but how many others you lift as you ascend. Practical action: each day, when you succeed in even a small thing, pause to remember those who struggle still, and ask yourself: “How may my success become a blessing to others?” In this way, your victory will never spoil your soul, but will refine it like gold in the fire.