For me 'success' means 'achieving goal'. The term does not involve moral values. Thus if a thief completes his object of stealing without being caught, he has got 'success'. If a sain has not achieved 'salvation' (whatever this means), he has not got success.
We must understand 'terms' in ordinary dictionary meaning only otherwise there will be only confusion in thoughts and actions.

The quote maybe interesting but in todays world most of us have changed the meaning of success to ...achievement

Career, job and marriage achievements are considered success as said by @Gulshan...whether it is wrong way or not doesnt matters

Rajani K wrote:
[quote]The quote maybe interesting but in todays world most of us have changed the meaning of success to ...achievement

Career, job and marriage achievements are considered success as said by @Gulshan...whether it is wrong way or not doesnt matters[/quote]

Rajani- success wrongly or through foul means is not praiseworthy but still this is success. Here we are talking about 'meaning' of 'success' and not the morality aspect. I believe that the aim and means to achieve both should be fair and lawful. Incidentally, 'achievement' is same as 'success'. Nevertheless, getting your aim fulfilled means success and the inability to do so is 'failure'. 'Success' and 'failure' are words with opposite meaning.

In my view, we must understand all words in the sense understood by most of people. Otherwise, there will be confusion in thoughts, action, communication and expressions.

We had narrowed the maening of success to some limits.Actually it has very wide meaning.

Abid Areacode wrote:
[quote]We had narrowed the meaning of success to some limits.Actually it has very wide meaning.[/quote]

Abid- Having very wide meaning will confuse. Language is for removing and not creating confusion. Kindly elaborate the 'wider' meaning for benefit of all. There can be more than one meaning and wider one also. It depends on context.

A thief's success in stealing or a murderer's suceess in a murder should not be confused with that of a saint's success.Let us stick to the context in which author made this observation and each of which refers to some positive attainment and to my mind the term 'success' itself has positive connotations!

So far, the best definition I have come across is: "Success is the completion of anything intended." In other words success is finishing what you planned to do.

If you are able to get a peaceful sleep after 8 hours of hard work, and if you are content with what you have then you are successful.This is my perception of success. :) :)

nagalakshmi.karunanidhi wrote:
[quote]If you are able to get a peaceful sleep after 8 hours of hard work, and if you are content with what you have then you are successful.This is my perception of success. :) :)[/quote]

If your aim is peaceful sleep and you get it, this is success. success is just getting your aim fulfilled. However, contentment is a concept different from success.

@Gulshan,

Being self content can be set as a goal.That is a success if achieved. :)