Happiness is prosperity combined with virtue.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, and that craves wary walking.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
All sunshine makes the desert.
—Arabic Proverb
Superfluity creates necessity, and necescity superfluity. Take care to be an economist in prosperity: there is no fear of your being one in adversity.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
Prosperity, alas! is often but another name for pride.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
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
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
The prosperous man is never sure that he is loved for himself.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Statesman, Latin Poet
Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
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
The current flows fast and furious. It issues in a spate of words from the loudspeakers and the politicians. Every day they tell us that we are a free people fighting to defend freedom. That is the current that has whirled the young airman up into the sky and keeps him circulating there among the clouds. Down here, with a roof to cover us and a gas mask handy, it is our business to puncture gas bags and discover the seeds of truth.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
He that swells in prosperity will be sure to shrink in adversity.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
Watch lest prosperity destroy generosity.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
They who lie soft and warm in a rich estate seldom come to heat themselves at the altar.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
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
Prosperity’s right hand is industry, and her left hand is frugality.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
If adversity hath killed his thousands, prosperity hath killed his ten thousands; therefore adversity is to be preferred. The one deceives, the other instructs; the one is miserably happy, the other happily miserable; and therefore many philosophers have voluntarily sought adversity and commend it in their precepts.
—Richard Burton (1925–84) Welsh Actor
Few of us can stand prosperity. Another man’s, I mean.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Prosperity cannot be divorced from humanity.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
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
So use prosperity, that adversity may not abuse thee: if in the one, security admits no fears, in the other, despair will afford no hopes; he that in prosperity can foretell a danger can in adversity foresee deliverance.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
When you ascend the hill of prosperity, may you not meet a friend.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A full cup must be carried steadily.
—English Proverb
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