In the book Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, a character named Doc states, "The things we admire in men, generosity, openness, honesty, understanding, and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system, and those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest are the traits of success." This proclamation is one of the most unfortunate but true things about our society. Success is commonly defined as the amount of wealth one can …showed first 75 words of 410 total…

…showed last 75 words of 410 total…economic standpoint, not his horribly defunct social life. It one finds a person who is open, generous, and honest, it is very likely that that person is not successful. The same goes for someone who is rude, egotistical, and self-interested; they will generally be more successful. The qualities that facilitate the gaining of wealth are not looked upon as good traits. The qualities that make a good person, do not necessarily make a successful one.