He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.
Bessie Stanley
Lincoln Republican, December 21, 1905
This quote is often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Kansas native Bessie Stanley entered a contest in 1905 to answer the question: "What Constitutes Success?" in 100 words or less. Bessie Stanley won $250 for her eloquent response.
Source: State Library of Kansas
For Mary Lib