Success Makes Enemies

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 24, 1872

Success Makes Enemies.

THEY who are eminently successful in business, who achieve greatness, notoriety in any pursuit, must expect to make enemies. So prone to petty jealousy and sordid envy is poor human nature, that whoever becomes distinguished is sure to become a mark for the malicious spite of those who, not deserving success themselves, are envious of the merited triumph of the more worthy. Moreover, the opposition which originates in such despicable motives is sure to be of the most unscrupulous character; hesitating at no iniquity, descending to the shabbiest littleness. Opposition, if it be honest and manly, is not in itself undesirable. The competitor in life's struggles, who is of true mettle, deprecates not opposition of an honorable character, but rather rejoices in it. It is only injustice or meanness which he deprecates; and it is this which the successful must meet, proportioned in bitterness, oftentimes, to the measure of success which excites it.