There is tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries; on such a full sea we are now afloat; and we must take the current the clouds folding and unfolding beyond the horizon. when it serves, or lose our ventures.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A great fortune depends on luck, a small one on diligence.
—Chinese Proverb
Misfortune is never mournful to the soul that accepts it; for such do always see that every cloud is an angel’s face. Every man deems that he has precisely the trials and temptations which are the hardest of all others for him to bear; but they are so, simply because they are the very ones he most needs.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer
Though men pride themselves on their great actions, often they are not the result of any great design, but of chance.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Fortune, to show us her power, and abate our presumption, seeing she could not make fools wise, has made them fortunate.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Fortune always leaves some door open in disasters whereby to come at a remedy.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
The man who comes up with a means for doing or producing almost anything better, faster or more economically has his future and his fortune at his fingertips.
—J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) American Business Person, Art Collector, Philanthropist
Fortune favors the bold, but abandons the timid.
—Latin Proverb
Luck always seems to be against the man who depends on it.
—Anonymous
There is always something infinitely mean about other people’s tragedies.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Fortune reveres the brave, and overwhelms the cowardly.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Speedy exception is the mother of good fortune.
—Common Proverb
To be a well-flavored man is the gift of fortune, but to write or read comes by nature.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Since luck’s a nine days’s wonder, wait their end.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Breaks balance out. The sun don’t shine on the same old dog’s rear end every day.
—Darrell Royal (1924–2012) American Football Player
Woe to him who would ascribe to something like reason to Chance, and make a religion of surrendering to it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Luck serves … as rationalization for every people that is not master of its own destiny.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
Diligence is the mother of good fortune, and idleness, its opposite, never brought a man to the goal of any of his best wishes.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrows; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A man who gives his children habits of industry provides for them better than by giving them a fortune.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
A wise man turns chance into good fortune.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Luck is good planning, carefully executed.
—Unknown
No one is truly free, they are a slave to wealth, fortune, the law, or other people restraining them from acting according to their will.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Your luck is how you treat people.
—Indian Proverb
Fortune does not so much change men, as it unmasks them.
—Unknown
Fortune favors the bold.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
Human life is more governed by fortune than by reason.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Depend on the rabbit’s foot if you will, but it didn’t work for the rabbit.
—Unknown
Fortune is for all; judgment is theirs who have won it for themselves.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
Fortune sides with him who dares.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Be willing to have it so. Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the last generation.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Lady Luck generally woos those who earnestly, enthusiastically, unremittingly woo her.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Misfortune does not always result in harm.
—Italian Proverb
Luck is believing you’re lucky.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
Each man’s character shapes his fortunes.
—Latin Proverb
It is wrong to think that misfortunes come from the east or from the west; they originate within one’s own mind. Therefore, it is foolish to guard against misfortunes from the external world and leave the inner mind uncontrolled.
—Buddhist Teaching
You don’t just luck into things as much as you would like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it is friendships or opportunities.
—Barbara Bush (1925–2018) American First Lady
By accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love he may rule the world forever.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Luck is what a capricious man believes in.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
There is nothing keeps longer than a middling fortune, and nothing melts away sooner than a great one. Poverty treads on the heels of great and unexpected riches.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Man’s life is ruled by fortune, not by wisdom.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Everything in life is luck.
—Donald Trump (b.1946) American Businessperson, Head of State
No man is poor who does not think himself so. But if in a full fortune with impatience he desires more, he proclaims his wants and his beggarly condition.
—Jeremy Taylor
We make our own fortunes and we call them fate.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound by shallows and in misery.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We are sure to get the better of fortune if we do but grapple with her.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck, even while waiting for it.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Chance is a word devoid of sense, nothing can exist without a cause.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author