Submitted by Philip Brewer on March 23, 2008 - 02:36.
It's always been possible for people who aren't especially smart to be successful. Being smart was an advantage for lots of other things, but for being successful (in the sense of being able to provide for a family), it was much less important than many other characteristics. It's just been in the last few decades that being smart became such a leg up in general.
Of course, the expression really begs the question: Is becoming rich really your goal? Everybody wants to support their family in comfort, but once you accomplish that, going on to become wealthy may not be the most important thing you could be doing.
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Thanks for the good comments!
Submitted by Philip Brewer on March 23, 2008 - 02:36.
It's always been possible for people who aren't especially smart to be successful. Being smart was an advantage for lots of other things, but for being successful (in the sense of being able to provide for a family), it was much less important than many other characteristics. It's just been in the last few decades that being smart became such a leg up in general.
Of course, the expression really begs the question: Is becoming rich really your goal? Everybody wants to support their family in comfort, but once you accomplish that, going on to become wealthy may not be the most important thing you could be doing.