<p>Prompt: Is conscience a more powerful motivator than money, fame, or power?</p>
<p>For many people, success is measured by money, fame and power. However, money, fame and power are only small parts of the overall equation when one is deciding on a course of action. Conscience plays a much larger role in motivating people, as seen in the Lord of the Rings, Anthem and the life of Martin Luther King jr. </p>
<p>In the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R Tolkein, Bilbo Baggins finds a mysterious evil ring of power. Later on, Frodo attempts to give the ring to Gandalf, who is undoubtatly the most powerful of the fellowship. Surprising everyone, Gandalf refuses to take the ring, which would bring him great power, because he knows that the ring would corrupt him. In short Gandalfs conscience takes over and he decides that taking the Ring is too great a risk, even if he would have gained immense power. </p>
<p>Another example is the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand. The storys protagonist, Equality, lives in a cooperative world where everyone thinks for their brothers rather than thinking of themselves. Even though he is the smartest person he has ever met, on his day of assignment he was chosen to be a street sweeper. Although the life of a street sweeper was comfortable, Equality was driven by his inner conscience to go out and learn and live up to his full potential. He does not act for money, fame, or power, but instead is motivated by his conscience to live up to his potential. </p>
<p>Martin Luther King jr. also exemplifies how conscience is a powerful motivator. Preaching equality between blacks and whites, Martin Luther King jr. made many enemies in the deep south. His car was bombed, his windows were broken by rocks and countless hate mail was sent to him. He did not gain money or power by preaching equality, but was instead pushed by his conscience to do the right thing and work for racial equality.</p>
<p>Some might argue that Martin Luther King jr. was motivated by fame, but this is not the case. By preaching and speaking for ideals that he truly believed in and by listening to his conscience in order to motivate himself to do more, he amassed a large following. He was not motivated by fame, but rather gradually accumulated it because of the passion he put into his work. It is clear that the most powerful motivator, as showing in the Lord of the Rings, Anthem and the Life of Martin Luther King jr., is not money, fame or power, but rather, conscience.</p>