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
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, and that craves wary walking.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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 wisest prophets make sure of the event first.
—Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (1717–97) English Art Historian, Man of Letters, Politician
If you want greater prosperity in your life, start forming a vacuum to receive it.
—Catherine Ponder (b.1927) American Clergywoman
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
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
You cannot create prosperity by law. Sustained thrift, industry, application, intelligence, are the only things that ever do, or ever will, create prosperity. But you can very easily destroy prosperity by law.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Historian, Political Leader, Explorer
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
Oh, how portentous is prosperity! how, comet-like, it threatens while it shines.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
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
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
If prosperity is regarded as the reward of virtue, it will be regarded as the symptom of virtue.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
When you ascend the hill of prosperity, may you not meet a friend.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Superfluity creates necessity, and necessity superfluity. Take care to be an economist in prosperity: there is no fear of your being one in adversity.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–95) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
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
Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed than one in adversity.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
The prosperous man is never sure that he is loved for himself.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman 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
Prosperity cannot be divorced from humanity.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Few of us can stand prosperity. Another man’s, I mean.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The good things that belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
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
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
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, 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
Prosperity’s right hand is industry, and her left hand is frugality.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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