To be wholly devoted to some intellectual exercise is to have

The words of Robert Louis Stevenson, “To be wholly devoted to some intellectual exercise is to have succeeded in life,” carry the weight of a truth that shines beyond the hunger for wealth, beyond the thirst for power, beyond the fleeting applause of the crowd. They remind us that true success is not found in the accumulation of gold or in the conquest of lands, but in the deep, passionate pursuit of knowledge, art, or thought. To give oneself wholly to an intellectual calling is to live a life rich in meaning, for it is to touch eternity with the mind and to drink from the inexhaustible springs of wisdom.

Devotion is the heart of this teaching. The world is filled with distractions, with temptations that pull men away from their higher selves. Many chase after pleasures, many grasp for crowns, but only the devoted reach the quiet summit where the spirit finds peace. To be wholly devoted means to surrender fully, to pour one’s strength, time, and soul into a noble pursuit, whether it be philosophy, science, poetry, or invention. This devotion transforms labor into joy, and life into triumph.

Consider the story of Socrates, who lived in Athens centuries before Stevenson’s time. He had no wealth, no high office, no possessions to leave behind. Yet he devoted himself entirely to the exercise of questioning, to the pursuit of wisdom, to the dialogue that sought truth. He gave his life wholly to the intellectual exercise of philosophy, and though he was condemned to death, his name and teachings live on to this day. Was this not success? For though his body perished, his devotion carved immortality into the hearts of men.

So too did Stevenson himself embody these words. Frail in health, often plagued by illness, he might have lived in despair. Yet his devotion to the written word gave his life its purpose. Through his works—Treasure Island, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and many others—he proved that a man who gives himself entirely to the labor of the mind creates wealth greater than gold: stories that inspire, ideas that endure, and wisdom that survives death itself.

This teaching is not reserved only for philosophers or writers. The mathematician who devotes himself to unraveling the mysteries of numbers, the teacher who gives her life to awakening young minds, the craftsman who refines the art of his skill—all live this truth. For devotion to an intellectual exercise is not narrow; it is any pursuit where the mind is fully engaged, where the spirit is lifted beyond mere survival, into the realm of creation, discovery, and meaning.

The lesson is clear: if you would succeed in life, seek not the applause of men, but the labor of the mind that awakens your soul. Find the intellectual path that stirs you most deeply, and walk it with devotion. Measure your success not by what you possess, but by how deeply you have given yourself to the exercise of your mind and spirit. For riches may fade, but devotion carves eternity into the fabric of existence.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: when you seek your place in this world, ask not only, “What will earn me bread?” but also, “What will awaken my mind? What will set my soul aflame?” Then devote yourself wholly to that pursuit. Pour into it your strength, your time, your patience. For when you have done so, when you have lived with devotion to an intellectual calling, you may at last say, as Stevenson said, that you have truly succeeded in life.

If you would act upon this wisdom, begin today by choosing one pursuit of the mind that calls to you—be it writing, learning, teaching, solving, or creating. Dedicate time each day to it. Guard that time as sacred. In time, you will discover that success is not something given by the world, but something born within, each time you give yourself wholly to the life of the mind.