How does one handle people who tell one that the reason people fail is because they didn’t work hard and that they had no discipline? To some extent, my brain goes blank when I have comments like this thrown at me. I also feel an intense anger and (I am very unwilling to admit this) even feel a sort of hatred.

As more and more studies show, success has more to do with the financial prosperity of your parents (which allowed these people to get an eduation, focus on friendship and connections, etc), than intelligence, talent, hard work, etc.

I don’t want to have to defend my opinions all the time. It takes up too much time and…