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
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
When you ascend the hill of prosperity, may you not meet a friend.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Watch lest prosperity destroy generosity.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
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
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
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
All sunshine makes the desert.
—Arabic Proverb
Happiness is prosperity combined with virtue.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Few of us can stand prosperity. Another man’s, I mean.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
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
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
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 Statesman, Latin Poet
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
Prosperity, alas! is often but another name for pride.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
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