"Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value."

Einstein said that to the son of a Life Magazine journalist who asked him for some guidance in life. The journalist was visiting Einstein at his home in Princeton, NJ in 1955, a few months before he died.

curious that the man whose fame came as a result of discovering that mass and energy are actually two sides of the same coin did not bring the same equivalence insight to bear on value and success.

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I think it depends on how one defines the terms. Often, I think success is associated with money, fame, awards, and other forms of validation.

Value could be thought of as a gift to humanity measured in staying power. Here lies the elements of a fulfilling life when all those other rewards fade away.

That’s how I read it anyway based on the context.