Chance is but the pseudonym of God for those particular cases which he does not choose to subscribe openly with his own sign-manual.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Men’s activities are occupied into ways—in grappling with external circumstances and in striving to set things at one in their own topsy-turvy mind.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Those who wait until all the lights are on green before starting will never leave home.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
One who waits for chance may wait a year.
—African Proverb
He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
It’s all fate and chance.
—Arabic Proverb
What chance has made yours is not really yours.
—Lucilius Junior (06–65 CE) Roman Poet, Procurator
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
Chance is a word devoid of sense, nothing can exist without a cause.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The circumstances of your life have uniquely qualified you to make a contribution. And if you don’t make that contribution, nobody else can make it.
—Harold Kushner (1935–2023) American Rabbi, Author
To get anywhere, or even live a long time, a man has to guess, and guess right, over and over again, without enough data for a logical answer.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
We’re given second chances every day of our life. We don’t usually take them, but they’re there for the taking.
—Andrew M. Greeley (1928–2013) American Priest, Author, Sociologist
Most people wait until everything is just right before they do anything. They refuse to go out on a limb where the fruit is. They refuse to bet on themselves.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
How often things occur by mere chance which we dared not even hope for.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
The roulette table pays nobody except him that keeps it. Nevertheless a passion for gaming is common, though a passion for keeping roulette tables is unknown.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
I thought how unpleasant it is to be locked out; and I thought how it is worse, perhaps, to be locked in.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
You can’t accomplish anything worthwhile if you inhibit yourself. If life teaches you nothing else, know this for sure: When you get the chance, go for it.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Accident counts for as much in companionship as in marriage.
—Henry Adams (1838–1918) American Historian, Man of Letters
Chance does nothing that has not been prepared beforehand.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
It is a fact that you project what you are.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
A consistent soul believes in destiny, a capricious one in chance.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The successful man is one who had the chance and took it.
—Roger Babson (1875–1967) American Economist
Don’t call a man honest just because he never had the chance to steal.
—Yiddish Proverb
In great affairs we ought to apply ourselves less to creating chances than to profiting from those that offer.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Work and acquire, and thou hast chained the wheel of Chance.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In America nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you.
—Amy Tan (b.1952) Chinese-American Novelist
There are no chances so unlucky from which clever people are not able to reap some advantage, and none so lucky that the foolish are not able to turn them to their own disadvantage.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
I’ve found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
He who leaves nothing to chance will do few things poorly, but he will do few things.
—E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax (1881–1959) British Politician, Diplomat
Leave a Reply