Do you know anyone rich and famous? Is that person always confident, popular and joyful – the epitome of mainstream success? Or, on the other hand, is the person stressed, having second thoughts about their life choices, and unsure of the meaning of their life? I'm willing to bet it's the latter. Marketing and traditional media have effectively brainwashed our society into accepting a false, even potentially dangerous, definition of success. Marketers want us to believe that having lots of money, living in a big house, and owning all the latest cars, fashion, and technology is the key to happiness and, therefore, success. This exaggerated and falsely publicized myth almost never occurs in real life. True success requires respect, appreciation, integrity and patience, all traits that by human nature are truly difficult to achieve, especially in the face of modern marketers who relentlessly deceive us, control our thoughts and usurp our independence to increase profits . According to the entries on the word “success” on Dictionary.com, there are several definitions of “success.” The first definition is “the favorable or prosperous conclusion of attempts or efforts; the achievement of one's objectives." This definition focuses on human nature traits such as dedication to becoming the best person one can be. The focus is on internal rather than external goals. The second seems to reinforce the definition that marketers want us to believe about success, “the attainment of wealth, position, honors.” There are thousands of quotes about success written by inventors, politicians, philosophers and authors over the centuries. In his article “100 Motivational Quotes That Will Make… Middle of the Paper… uffington Post.com. September 17, 2014 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lolly-daskal-/100-motivational-quotes-t_b_4505356.htmlDonald, David Herbert. Lincoln. New York: Simon & Schuster; First edition Touchstone Ed, 1996Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "What is success." Yuni.com. Yuni Library and Web. 17 September 2014. http://www.yuni.com/library/docs/651.htmlFitzPatrick, Bill. "Principles of action". Success.org. American Institute of Success. September 17, 2014 http://www.success.org/Lincoln, Abraham. "Notes for a law lesson." Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2. 1809-1865.. Np, nd Web. 9 February 2014. Long, Tony. “You say you want a revolution?” [Podcast entry] The Luddite. September 17, 2014. Wired.com. December 12, 2006 http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,71096-0.htmlMiller, William. The Virtues of Lincoln: An Ethical Biography. Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 2007.