Moral strength and personal success. What does one have to do with the other? Moral strength is good in itself, and it’s something worth striving for. And personal success is probably the sole purpose in life for everyone.

The question is, are these two related in any way? If so, in what way? Would it be correct to say one contributes to the other? And of course if one does in fact contribute to the other, it can only be moral strength that is the contributing factor. It’s doubtful whether personal success is likely to lead to moral strength, though one never knows.

Alternately, the question may be asked whether moral strength and personal success is sought by the same people. Or is it that a certain type of people seek moral strength and quite a different type of people pursue personal success?

For those who seek moral strength, is it a desired goal in itself or is it sought merely for the sake of personal success? And, lastly, could it be said that having moral strength is the only goal, and personal success is merely a benefit resulting from it?

If a cynical approach is taken to this topic, the answer will be obvious. Moral strength is not necessary for personal success. In fact, it may be said moral strength will actually impede the chances for success. Success requires ruthless determination. There’s no room for morality in this pursuit.

An answer may be suggested if the combination of words in the title were to be switched around. In the title there are the words “moral strength” and “personal success.” The right statement, it seems, would be “personal strength” and “success.” Personal strength is necessary for success in life.

Personal strength, of course, does not mean muscular strength, unless the intention is to physically shove aside everyone in one’s path. But personal strength means strength of character. All those character traits that are usually cited as necessary to succeed in life.

But, then, this is nothing other than moral strength, it may be argued. Strength of character is nothing other than moral strength. If this is to be the accepted definition of moral strength then there’s no problem. But the objection is to the word “moral.”

As soon as the word “moral” is brought into the discussion, it tends to become a theological interpretation. And it’s followed by all the strictures from scripture. (These two words naturally seem to go together. Stricture and scripture.)

It’s preferable to leave the word “moral” out of the topic. So then it may be said that personal strength contributes to success. Or, in other words, strength of character contributes to success. And this may be the end of the discussion. Yet there’s a lingering doubt.

This may not be the final word on the topic. It seems not enough emphasis has been given to the word “personal” in personal success. The word “success” causes a sort of blindness to everything else, and it’s taken for what most people take it for. But everyone does not think of personal success in the same way.

For some, personal success is more about adhering to principles, having integrity, and being happy in living by those principles, rather than achieving worldly success. This is the mistake, then. Worldly success is confused with personal success. The majority may think they’re the same, but there are some who think they are not only different but, in some cases, actually opposed.

So the combination of words proves to be right, depending on how personal success is understood. Those who take moral strength to be a success in itself, would say moral strength and personal success are synonymous.

They’ll tell you that moral strength cannot but lead to personal success. In fact, you cannot have real personal success if you lack moral strength. This is not necessarily a unanimous view, mind you. Yet it must be admitted there is enough truth in it to make it a valid principle.

The conclusion, then, must be that moral strength does contribute to personal success. It may be necessary to point out that moral strength is to be understood as comprising strength of character over and above, or as well as, being of a theological nature.

Once strength of character is taken as contributing to personal success it must follow that any thing that contributes to strength of character directly or indirectly also contributes to personal success. And it cannot be denied that moral strength does contribute to strength of character.

Thus, even a cynical approach cannot but come to the conclusion that moral strength does contribute to personal success.