better oneself

It is what some refer to as a disincentive - a reward for not attempting to better oneself.

"In 17 years I've never seen someone's bail violated for attempting to better oneself," Labrie's lawyer, Jaye Rancourt, said outside court.

The desire to better oneself can arise from seeing how much others have, and, with one’s nose pressed to the glass, dream of one day accomplishing more to make it inside.

It was once a socialist rite of passage to "better oneself" via books, be one DH Lawrence or Jean Rhys.

Being innately sincere, she continued bravely: "It seemed to me to be wrong not to want to better oneself, to rise higher...."