If you wait for luck to help you, you’ll have often an empty stomach.
—Ignaz Bernstein (1836–1909) Russian-Jewish Bibliophile
The Goddess Fortune is the devil’s servant, ready to kiss any one’s ass.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Luck can often mean simply taking advantage of a situation at the right moment. It is possible to make your luck by being always prepared.
—Michael Korda (b.1933) English-born Writer, Novelist
I base my calculations on the expectation that luck will be against me
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
What is bad luck for one man is good luck for another.
—African Proverb
We must master our good fortune, or it will master us.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Work and acquire, and thou hast chained the wheel of Chance.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
People often remark that I’m pretty lucky. Luck is only important in so far as getting the chance to sell yourself at the right moment. After that, you’ve got to have talent and know how to use it.
—Frank Sinatra (1915–1998) American Singer
Chance corrects us of many faults that reason would not know how to correct.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A person is unlucky who falls on his back and breaks his nose.
—French Proverb
The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
A person does not seek luck; luck seeks the person.
—Turkish Proverb
Life is full of chances and changes, and the most prosperous of men may … meet with great misfortunes.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Don’t believe in miracles—depend on them.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-born American Educator, Author
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
Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Tsuki ni murakumo, hana ni kaze
Clouds over the moon, a storm over blossoms
—Japanese Proverb
I owe nothing to Women’s Lib.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
Fortune reveres the brave, and overwhelms the cowardly.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I have a notion that gamblers are as happy as most people, being always excited; women, wine, fame, the table, even ambition, sate now and then, but every turn of the card and cast of the dice keeps the gambler alive—besides one can game ten times longer than one can do any thing else.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
When luck joins in the game, cleverness scores double.
—Yiddish Proverb
When life appears to be working against you, when your luck is down, when the supposedly wrong people show up, or when you slip up and return to old, self-defeating habits, recognize the signs that you’re out of harmony with intention.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
Lady Luck generally woos those who earnestly, enthusiastically, unremittingly woo her.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
See a pin and pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck; set a pin and let it lie, you’ll want a pin before you die.
—Common Proverb
Your luck is how you treat people.
—Indian Proverb
You’ve got to be in a position for luck to happen. Luck doesn’t go around looking for a stumblebum.
—Darrell Royal (1924–2012) American Football Player
If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
A lucky man is rarer than a white crow.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He was just a coward and that was the worst luck any many could have.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
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