"To many a man, and sometimes to a youth, there comes the opportunity to choose between honorable competence and tainted wealth. The young man who starts out to be poor and honorable, holds in his hand one of the strongest elements of success"
- Orison Swett Marden
About this Quote
This quote by Orison Swett Marden speaks with the power of option and the importance of making the right decision. It recommends that when an individual, specifically a young person, is presented with the chance to choose between respectable skills and tainted wealth, they must choose the former. Marden thinks that by making the ideal choice and beginning with honorable proficiency, an individual will have a higher possibility of success. He indicates that the strength of character and ethical integrity that includes honorable competence is more valuable than the wealth that comes with polluted wealth. This quote encourages individuals to make the ideal decision and to prioritize their values and principles over material gain. It is a pointer that the choices we make have the power to form our future.
"The opportunity to create a small world between two pieces of cardboard, where time exists yet stands still, where people talk and I tell them what to say, is exciting and rewarding"
