Is it possible to become rich and powerful without selling your soul?

[Djiril]

Why or why not?

[Amethyst Rose]

I think this poll needs an "it depends" answer. Here's why:

Being rich and being powerful are two different things. It's true that at times they go hand in hand, but rarely.
Now, if a person becomes rich they don't necessarily have to become a horrible person. (I'm assuming that's what you mean by "selling your soul"). In fact, many people if and when the become rich (whether through lottery, or inheritance, or business savy), spend a lot of their money helping the less fortunate, through charitable donations and such. I know someone who won the lottery and gave millions away to family members, just to make their lives easier.
Now power is a different story. Very few people have the morality not to let power change them. As the saying goes, "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." I think it takes a strong person not to use their power for evil. :) I mean, I know I certianly couldn't do it. I couldn't even be a police officer, because I'm not a moral enough person.
So, while it is possible to be rich and powerful and still be a good person, it isn't as common as it should be. I think it just adds to the argument that people are naturally bad.

[Doctor Oakroot]

They are different things...

But here are some thoughts on power.

It is often said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely... but it just ain't so.

It's not power that corrupts, but the fear of losing it... and if one had absolute power, why would one fear losing it?

See wealth of spirit below.

---
And some thoughts on wealth.

I'm a very wealthy man - not because I have a pretty good income, or own my (almost paid off) house... I was wealthy when I was homeless... when I was unemployed.

True wealth is a matter of spirit... and if you have the spirit, no amount of money can corrupt you.

[Amethyst Rose]

Originally posted by Doctor Oakroot

It's not power that corrupts, but the fear of losing it... and if one had absolute power, why would one fear losing it?

True wealth is a matter of spirit... and if you have the spirit, no amount of money can corrupt you.

Yes! That's so true. I'd never thought of it before, thanks for pointing it out. I really don't think there is such a thing as absolute power, unless its the power of the universe to recreate itself....maybe the power of chaos. But a person can't have it.

And as for fear.....

The Litany Of Fear

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind killer.
Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past,
I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone
There will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

~ The Litany of Fear,
taken from the writings of
the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood
by Frank Herbert, Dune

(I just think that's a cool quote) :)

[Doctor Oakroot]

That is a very cool quote.

[Theres]

give me the money, and i'll let you know!

[Flaire-FireStar]

I could win the lottery and not be powerful. I could be the next biggest actress and not be rich... It works both ways, I guess.

[flar7]

yes, riches could just fall into your lap. And you are already
powerful. You make decisions that change the world everyday,
that is power. I could get more philosophical about it, but I think
that most of you see where that is going. You are powerful.

[merlo]

power is ego
love is surrender

unless yur godsmack, then it's ok

[Æon Flux]

rich in the sense of having lots of money or rich in the sense of having a life rich of love and family and beauty?

Powerful as in having a lot of earthly power over others or having power over yourself?

See, it's a tricky question.

Having lots of money and power is usually followed by a sense of lonelyness and distrust towards other people. Then again, some people work their way to money and a place of power with love and talent and manage to stay in touch with love and trust and understanding.
I believe that some people can handle being rich and powerful in a material sense and still be rich and powerful in the spirit. However I do believe that this is hard to do, since ¨too much power and money often leads to a sense of disconnection from the more spiritual parts of life.

Oh gosh... what a ramble. But I think you'll understand my point.

[Phoenix Element]

As I'm in the art field, my thoughts went to comic books. Many of the famous writers and artists are famous because they brought their own fresh approach to the industry. I admit, some do sell out eventually, but I have the greatest respect for the people aren't in just "to make it big" and truly love what they do. If you can honestly make money while loving your job....you're absolutely blessed and deserve every cent.

[Djiril]

Woah! This was one of my first threads! :D

[XanderAmon]

I'd say it's easier to become rich without "selling out" than to become powerful. Some people earn a fortune through their own honest elbow grease, some inherit, some win prizes...

But to gain power, that implies power over others. Which in a lot of cases involves stepping on people, or being subversive.

[Little Billy]

Why or why not?

"Behind every great fortune is a crime."
- Some French Wise-ass.

[misschief]

Why or why not?um yeah... education, effort, job. bam.. still got your happy lil soul

[Philosophia]

Of course you can still be rich and powerful without selling your soul. It just requires more hard work. :hahugh:

[pawnman]

Yes. The incredibly evil, tyrranical, megamillionaire CEO with the power to crush tiny peasants is largely a myth. We project bad feelings and motives onto the rich and powerful because we are, consciously or unsciously, jealous.

[Blackdove]

Whether becoming rich requires you to sell your soul depends upon what your values are. It is selling out these values that constitutes the metaphor of selling one's soul, which cannot literally be sold.

A committed capitalist would obviously not feel he has sold his soul by becoming rich and powerful, because he would trust in the system's adjudication that he deserves to be in his position. Somebody with different values might well feel they need to 'sell out' in order to achieve wealth or power in captalist society, because their own belief system does not justify the path to that power.

[6th Angel]

Of course you can still be rich and powerful without selling your soul. It just requires more hard work. :hahugh:
My thoughts exactly...
I think that in order to become ":cool: rich and powerful:cool: " at the same time and as fast as possible, in todays world you have to step on a lot of people_wedgie_ . Actually it has always been that way. Survival of the fittest
:hailmol:
Though you can always get there without stepping on people..... Eventually..... Maybe...... Someday.....:abadpoker Have to work hard though....

[Vincent Verthaine]

Yes. The incredibly evil, tyrranical, megamillionaire CEO with the power to crush tiny peasants is largely a myth. We project bad feelings and motives onto the rich and powerful because we are, consciously or unsciously, jealous.
Am I to believe that with maybe a few exeptions the rich and powerful throughout history have been nothing but paragons of virtue?
That the rich and powerful have done nothing but rise up and try to better the lives of the less fortunate under them.

I guess the hebrews didn't realize how good they had it being slaves to pharoah.

I'm sure throughtout history peasants,serfs,slaves,were treated as humanely as possible by the powerful.
I'm sure the peasant uprisings throughout European history were without merit.Feudalism was a wonderful and enlightening experiance for European peasantry.
I'm sure my ancestors loved working at huge plantations picking cotton from dawn till dusk,for no pay.Being sold at a whim.Feeling the whip of the overseer.
I'm sure the English landlords had nothing but love and compassion for the Irish during the Potato famine.

Oh I get it.The French Revolution,The Serf Revolts of Tsarist Russia,China's Cultural Revolution,The labour movement of the 19th century,even our own American Revolution all happened because poor people were just jealous of rich people.

I understand
Rich and powerful=good,kind,loving caring and superior
Poor and oppressed=bad,petty,jealous,ungrateful and inferior.

[Cain]

Depends how rich we are talking here. You can be rich and successful, as you define those terms, without selling out, yes. However, if you want to be Conspiracy-rich/a superstar/a mix of the before then you will undoubtedly sell out and go against your principles at some point. You have to, in order to please the customers/fans/masses.

[Acid09]

Sure its possible...you go behind your partner's back and sell theirs instead!

[Incendia]

You can make lots of money through honesty and hard work, but it's a much longer and harder road.

[Little Billy]

You can make lots of money through honesty and hard work, but it's a much longer and harder road.


Somewhere, Horatio Alger is laughing.

[Incendia]

Somewhere, Horatio Alger is laughing.

LOL! And sprouting some horns! ;)

[Tarotboy4]

I believe that nothing is impossible. there are things that are highly improbable but nothing is 100 % impossible, except me taking advice from the people of Queer Eye.