The prosperity of a people is proportionate to the number of hands and minds usefully employed. To the community, sedition is a fever, corruption is a gangrene, and idleness is an atrophy. Whatever body or society wastes more than it acquires, must gradually decay; and every being that continues to be fed, and ceases to labor, takes away something from the public stock.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
There is ever a certain languor attending the fulness of prosperity. When the heart has no more to wish, it yawns over its possessions, and the energy of the soul goes out like a flame that has no more to devour.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Prosperity is too apt to prevent us from examining our conduct, but adversity leads us to think properly of our state, and so is most beneficial to us.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
If you want greater prosperity in your life, start forming a vacuum to receive it.
—Catherine Ponder (b.1927) American Clergywoman
Many are not able to suffer and endure prosperity; it is like the light of the sun to a weak eye, glorious, indeed, in itself, but not proportioned to such an instrument.
—Jeremy Taylor
The virtue of prosperity is temperance, but the virtue of adversity is fortitude; and the last is the more sublime attainment.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Who feels no ills, should, therefore, fear them; and when fortune smiles, be doubly cautious, lest destruction come remorseless on him, and he fall unpitied.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
There is only one way by which you can achieve prosperity. It is to take charge of your mind.
—Eric Butterworth (1916–2003) American Spirituality Writer
Greatness stands upon a precipice, and if prosperity carries a man ever so little beyond his poise, it overbears and dashes him to pieces.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Oh, how portentous is prosperity! how, comet-like, it threatens while it shines.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
As full ears load and lay down corn, so does too much fortune bend and break the mind. It deserves to be considered, too, as another disadvantage, that affliction moves pity, and reconciles our very enemies, but prosperity provokes envy, and loses us our very friends.
—Pierre Charron (1541–1603) French Preacher, Philosopher
Prosperity has this property: It puffs up narrow souls, makes them imagine themselves high and mighty, and leads them to look down upon the world with contempt; but a truly noble spirit appears greatest in distress; and then becomes more bright and conspicuous.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
While prosperous you can number many friends; but when the storm comes you are left alone.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
The wisest prophets make sure of the event first.
—Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (1717–97) English Art Historian, Man of Letters, Politician
Life is ever giving of Itself. We must receive, utilize and extend the gift. Success and prosperity are spiritual attributes belonging to all people.
—Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) American New Thought Writer, Teacher
Prosperity in the form of wealth works exactly the same as everything else. You will see it coming into your life when you are unattached to needing it.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
That fortitude which has encountered no dangers, that prudence which has surmounted no difficulties, that integrity which has been attacked by no temptation, can at best be considered but as gold not yet brought to the test, of which, therefore, the true value cannot be assigned.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Prosperity is not just having things. It is the consciousness that attracts the things. Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just having money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things.
—Eric Butterworth (1916–2003) American Spirituality Writer
When you ascend the hill of prosperity, may you not meet a friend.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
No man is prosperous whose immortality is forfeited.—No man is rich to whom the grave brings eternal bankruptcy.—No man is happy upon whose path there rests but a momentary glimmer of light, shining out between clouds that are closing over him in darkness forever.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
The mind that is much elevated and insolent with prosperity, and cast down by adversity, is generally abject and base.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
He that swells in prosperity will be sure to shrink in adversity.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
As riches and favor forsake a man, we discover him to be a fool but nobody could find it out in his prosperity.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
A full cup must be carried steadily.
—English Proverb
The prosperous man is never sure that he is loved for himself.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Poet
What Anacharsis said of the vine may aptly enough be said of prosperity. She bears the three grapes of drunkenness, pleasure, and sorrow; and happy is it if the last can cure the mischief which the former work. When afflictions fail to have their due effect, the case is desperate.
—Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751) British Statesman, Philosopher
Few of us can stand prosperity. Another man’s, I mean.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
All sunshine makes the desert.
—Arabic Proverb
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