Does Prince fit this definition of "Success?" ~by Ralph Waldo Emerson...

And do you feel like you do?

SUCCESS

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is a beautiful poem about success.

I sincerely believe that Prince fits this definition, I also feel this for the most part about myself.

I doubt Prince would ever allow success to be defined for him.

Genesia said:

I doubt Prince would ever allow success to be defined for him.

Yes. Actually, nobody should allow others to define for him/her what success is or not.

Prince fits his OWN definition of success as do a lot of people who play by their own rules.

[Edited 8/31/11 8:48am]

Success is defined individually by each individual.

bobbyperu said:

What the hell are "intelligent people" "honest critics" or "false friends" ???Those terms could mean 100 different things to 100 different people...

A figment of someone's imgination.

Its not for me to say, but he has brought a lot of happiness, comfort and inspiration into the world with his music so that is a success.

I like the Emerson definition though...

yes he does idk.. lol

Its a relative term. He is successful in his own right.

bobbyperu said:

What the hell are "intelligent people" "honest critics" or "false friends" ???Those terms could mean 100 different things to 100 different people...

I guess it does mean different things to different people. The poem's author "Emerson," certainly had his idea...I suppose I married and divorced a "false friend." I think we all have endured betrayal at one time or another.

In my opinion, an "honest critic," would be someone offering their opinion without worrying what their peers would say. Some critics may try more to gain popularity than to "tell the whole truth."

Intelligence I agree is subjective, but if loving your fellow man is the heart of who you are, that's smart enough.

IamFunkay7 said:

yes he does idk.. lol

Yes. The world is a better place because Prince has been here.