Should we raise children to be good people first and then to become successful second.?

Question

OR.......

raise children to be succesful first and then to become good people second.

I suppose most people will say good people first? but why? since nearly everyone craves success in some field.

Answer 1

I raised my children to be well adjusted happy and this is successful. We have to see how things turn out. They are a laugh n all, I like that about em.

Answer 2

Success is crap if you ask me. And most of the time you grow to be at least a bit evil while working your way to it... I guess it is self-obvious then what the order should be.
I think a true "good person" will immediately see and avoid all the evil shortcomings of the way to success, whereas the path to success will quite often help tip the scales toward evil if you are "uninitiated".
I believe that a truly successful and rich life has little to do with the "success" and nothing to do with the "riches".

Answer 3

I would say raise them to be good people first, because everyone measures success differently.

I don't see success as the amount of money I've made or the things I've bought. Success for me is about person growth. It's measured by what I've learned and done and what impact my life has. If I die wealthy but I've done nothing for other people, then my life was worthless.

Answer 4

Oh gosh! I am raising my child to be a good, kind and honest person, with high morals and empathy for other people.
I then encourage her to be the best she can be BUT.....if she does not succeed at something then that too is okay, so long as she is honest with herself that she has tried her best.

What is the definition of success though? I feel if you can be a good, kind and honest person, then everything else in life should somewhat be a success anyway

Answer 5

Are you saying you need to be bad to be succesful...that is certainly not the case...I raised my children to be good, and my Grandsons are being raised to be good...nothing at all wrong with that...If you are good you have respect for people which goes a long way towards making friendships which are a stepping stone to success...You dont have to be bad to be good at business...you can be good and still get on..........

Answer 6

You should raise them to be good people, choosing success is then up to them in later life. I absolutely do not believe that success should be forced upon people.
How do you quantify successful??

Answer 7

Why can't they be successful at being good people first...then everything will fall into place

Answer 8

You need to teach them what success is. It must include being a good person.

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Answer 9

Raise them to be both......why not ?....if you show them good ways , kindness ,manners, thought for others and it the same time praise them and instill in them self belief, they will grow up rounded individuals and success will naturally follow !!!!

Answer 10

Depends what you mean by successful but it's interesting that you don't consider that the two can be combined.