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Luck & Chance


Luck & Chance

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Quotations

SenecaLuck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

21 likes
Thales of MiletusThere are three attributes for which I am grateful to Fortune: that I was born, first, human and not animal; second, man and not woman; and third, Greek and not barbarian.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

13 likes
Will DurantAll in all he was fortunate: he lived without working, read without writing, taught without routine, drank without dizziness, and died before senility, almost without pain.

—  Will Durant, 1885-1981, American historian & philosopher

     (on Socrates)

9 likes
Jean CocteauWe must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like?

—  Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963, French artist

8 likes
Eric HofferA great man's greatest good luck is to die at the right time.

—  Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983, American writer & philosopher

7 likes
Théophile GautierChance is perhaps the pseudonym of God when He did not want to sign.

—  Théophile Gautier, 1811-1872, French poet & writer

6 likes
NapoleonI know he's a good general, but is he lucky?

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

6 likes
Laurence J PeterFortune knocks but once, but misfortune has much more patience.

—  Laurence J Peter, 1919-1990, Canadian writer & educator

6 likes
Francis BaconIf a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she is blind, she is not invisible.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

6 likes
NapoleonAs a rule, it is circumstances that make men.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

6 likes
Albert EinsteinGod doesn't play dice with the world.

—  Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-Jewish physicist

5 likes
Thomas JeffersonI find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.

—  Thomas Jefferson, 1749-1826, American President [1801-1809]

4 likes
Michel de MontaigneFortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.

—  Michel de Montaigne, 1533-1592, French thinker

4 likes
La RochefoucauldLuck must be dealt with like health: enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad.

—  La Rochefoucauld, 1613-1680, French writer

4 likes
Honoré de BalzacMost men of action believe in fate and most men of thought believe in prudence.

—  Honoré de Balzac, 1799-1850, French writer

4 likes
Ralph Waldo EmersonShallow men believe in luck, believe in circumstances...Strong men believe in cause and effect.

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1884, American philosopher

3 likes
Francis BaconChiefly the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

2 likes
Calvin CoolidgeThose who trust to chance must abide by the results of chance.

—  Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933, American President [1923-1929]

2 likes
William BlakeThe goddess fortune is the devil’s servant ready to kiss any ones arse.

—  William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet & painter

2 likes
Frank A. ClarkIt’s hard to detect good luck – it looks so much like something you’ve earned.

—  Frank A. Clark, 1911-1991, American cartoonist

1 likes
Marguerite YourcenarLet's leave the choice to Chance, this straw man of God.

—  Marguerite Yourcenar, 1903-1987, French writer

1 likes
Giordano BrunoWith luck on your side, you can do without brains.

—  Giordano Bruno, 1548-1600, Italian monk & philosopher

Charles DickensA man is lucky if he is the first love of a woman. A woman is lucky if she is the last love of a man.

—  Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, British writer

Joseph JoubertChance generally favors the prudent.

—  Joseph Joubert, 1754-1824, French author of maxims

Honoré de BalzacPeople who strongly want something are almost always well served by chance.

—  Honoré de Balzac, 1799-1850, French writer

Bernard BaruchChance sometimes opens the door, but luck belongs to the good players.

—  Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965, American businessman & statesman

ChanakyaHe who is prepared for the future and he who deals cleverly with any situation that may arise are both happy; but the fatalistic man who wholly depends on luck is ruined.

—  Chanakya, 370-280 π.X., Indian teacher & philosopher

Marcel AchardLuck exists. Otherwise, how would you explain the success of others?

—  Marcel Achard, 1899-1974, French playwright

D. H. LawrenceIt's better to be born lucky than rich. If you're rich, you may lose your money, but if you're born lucky, you will always have more money.

—  D. H. Lawrence, 1885-1930, British writer

Stephen KingLuck was a joke. Even good luck was just bad luck with its hair combed.

—  Stephen King, 1947-, American author of horror & fantasy fiction

Marty RubinBad health is bad luck. Everything else is good luck.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

Robert HeinleinThere is no such thing as luck; there is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe.

—  Robert Heinlein, 1907-1988, American sci-fi writer

Nicolas ChamfortLuck, in order to reach me, passes through circumstances created by my character.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer

Joseph ConradIt is the mark of an inexperienced man not to believe in luck.

—  Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924, British-Polish writer

StendhalLuck grabs you by the hair, but she herself is bald.

—  Stendhal, 1783-1842, French writer

Baltasar GracianIt is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck even while waiting for it.

—  Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658, Spanish writer

Nicolas Gomez DavilaThe wheel of fortune is a better analogy for history than the “evolution of humanity”.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

Marie von Ebner-EschenbachChance is necessity hidden behind a veil.

—  Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 1830-1916, German author of maxims

Latin Quotes

VirgilFortune favors the bold.

Audentes fortuna iuvat.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

144 likes
Publilius SyrusFortune is like glass: the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.

Fortuna vitrea est: tum cum splendet frangitu.

—  Publilius Syrus, 1st cent. AD, Roman author of maxims

40 likes

Funny Quotes

Franklin RooseveltI think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.

—  Franklin Roosevelt, 1882-1945, American President [1936-1945]

7 likes

Ancient Greek

MenanderHow sweet is life when fortune is not envious.

Ως ηδύ το ζην μη φθονούσης της τύχης.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

29 likes
ThucydidesFortune helps the brave.

Τοις τολμώσιν η τύχη ξύμφορος.

—  Thucydides, 460-394 BC, Ancient Greek historian

13 likes
SophoclesFortune never helps the fainthearted.

Ου τοις αθύμοις η τύχη ξυλλαμβάνει.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet

11 likes
Chilon of SpartaDo not trust good luck.

Τύχη μη πίστευε.

—  Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

10 likes
MenanderI want either a drop of luck or a bucket of brains.

Θέλω τύχης σταλαγμόν ή φρενών πίθον.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

9 likes
Ancient Greek phraseIf god wills, you can sail even on a mat.

Θεού θέλοντος καν επί ριπός πλέοις.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

9 likes
DemocritusBoldness is the beginning of action. But fortune controls how it ends.

Τόλμα πρήξιος αρχή, τύχη δε τέλεος κυρίη.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

9 likes
DemocritusMen have made an idol of Fortune as an excuse for their own lack of willpower.

Άνθρωποι τύχης είδωλον επλάσαντο, πρόφασιν ιδίης αβουλίης.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

8 likes
AgathonArt favored luck and luck favored art.

Τέχνη τύχην έστερξε και τύχη τέχνην.

—  Agathon, 450-400 BC, Ancient Greek tragic poet

8 likes
AesopThe unlucky man will be bitten even by a sheep.

Τον ατυχή και πρόβατον δάκνει.

—  Aesop, 620-560 BC, Ancient Greek fabulist

6 likes
PlutarchNothing depends on luck, but all on good judgment and diligence.

Μηδέν της τύχης, αλλά πάντα της ευβουλίας και της προνοίας.

—  Plutarch, 47-120 AD, Ancient Greek historian

5 likes
MenanderThere is no man who does not blame his luck.

Ουκ έστιν όστις την τύχην ου μέμφεται.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

4 likes

Proverbs

International proverbFortune favours the brave.

—  International proverb

7 likes
Yiddish proverbOne’s good luck is another’s misfortune.

—  Yiddish proverb

6 likes
Turkish proverbA man does not seek his luck, luck seeks its man.

—  Turkish proverb

3 likes

Movie Quotes

Dirty Harry (1971)You've gotta ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?”
Well, do ya, punk?

—  from the film Dirty Harry (1971)

6 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






Similar Topics

Destiny

Future

Opportunity

Prophecy

Hope

Astrology

Easiness

Victory & Defeat

Superstition

Success & Failure

Transience

Gambling

Contrary Topics

Logic & Reason

Mathematics

Troubles

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2 Victory & Defeat
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5 Self-reliance
6 Ego
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8 Cunning
9 Eroticism
10 Nudity
11 Vanity
12 Self-deprecation
13 Incompetence
14 Sex
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16 Meaning of Life
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2024: Manolis Papathanassiou