How do YOU judge success?

Question

Are there any good quotes from philosophers on the topic?

Answer 1

Success is measured, in my opinion, by three words.
Purpose, Meaning and Fulfillment.

Answer 2

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
-Sir Winston Churchill

"Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value."
-Albert Einstein

"Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars."
-Frederick Langbridge

"Unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can."
-Henry Drummond

“Always demanding the best of oneself, living with honor, devoting one's talents and gifts to the benefits of others - these are the measures of success that endure when material things have passed away.”
-Henry Ford

And my personal favorite:

"This planet has - or rather had - a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy."
-Douglas Adams

Answer 3

I wouldn't know any quotes from any great philosophers, but I can say this - I would simply judge success on th basis of the level of contentment a person has upon achieving his goals - whether they be in life or love.

Answer 4

In simple analysis the opposite of success is failure. For me, success in one's life is that which he loves most after being right with God and achieving the maximum that can be achieve with what God has given him.
It is only as a person is willing to be put "under the hammer" and is willing to face unusually tough problem that he is able to develop the expertise required for him to move ahead.

Answer 5

I don't believe success can be judged. Individuals shape their success. Success is just that, individual.

Answer 6

Success for me is having sound moral judgement, no financial problems, strong relationships with people and always doing the right thing no matter what.

Answer 7

I measure success by the yardstick of contentment.

Answer 8

There are many types of success....in love, in work, in accomplishments, in personal economics, etc. But the only one that counts is when you feel that you have accomplished what you wanted.

Answer 9

I agree with ekil422.

Many people view success for others as financial security. But as for ourselves, money is important, but it surely isn't everything.

Answer 10

If you are happy, you are successful.