Quotes About Fortune

It is deplorable, but not tragic, simply to be a victim of circumstance, for there is an important distinction between destiny and sheer victimization.

Not seldom in this life, when, on the right side, fortune's favourites sail close by us, we, though all adroop before, catch somewhat of the rushing breeze, and joyfully feel our bagging sails fill out. So seemed it with the Pequod. For next day

By heaven, man, we are turned round and round in this world, like yonder windlass, and Fate is the handspike.

Life is governed by chance, not wisdom.

The reason for the prosperity of the wicked, and also for the troubles of the good, is not in our hands." Then

Muchos hombres opulentos son desdichados, y muchos que tienen hacienda moderada son dichosos.

???? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ???????. You can see from that, Croesus, that man is entirely a creature of chance" (Trans. de Sélincourt)

are you breathing, are you lucky enough to be breathing

And fate? No one alive has ever escaped it, neither brave man nor coward, I tell you— it's born with us the day that we are born.

No man is going to hurl me to Hades, unless it is fated, but as for fate, I think that no man yet has escaped it once it has taken its first form, neither brave man nor coward.

So the immortals spun our lives that we, we wretched men live on to bear such torments-the gods live free of sorrows. There are two great jars that stand on the floor of Zeus's halls and hold his gifts, our miseries one, the other blessings. When Zeus who loves the lightning mixes gifts for a man, now he meets with misfortune, now good times in turn.

I too seemed destined to be a man of fortune once and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence, stalking all on my father and my brothers. Look at me now, And so, I say, let no man ever be lawless all his life, just take in peace what gifts the gods will send.

While some multimillionaires started in poverty, most did not. A study of the origins of 303 textile, railroad, and steel executives of the 1870s showed that 90 percent came from middle- or upper-class families. The Horatio Alger stories of "rags to riches" were true for a few men, but mostly a myth, and a useful myth for control.

It's a strange world. Some people get rich and others eat shit and die.

They claimed no allegiance to any flag and valued no currency but luck and good contacts.

I have never believed much in luck, and my sense of humor has tended to walk on the dark side.

Even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then.

Everybody has the same chance but you need to be rich...

La nostra vita è tutta fatta di simboli. Ogni cosa che facciamo è parte di un disegno dove abbiamo comunque voce in capitolo. I forti stabiliscono i propri percorsi e influenzano quelli degli altri, i deboli ce li hanno già segnati. I deboli e gli sfortunati. E gli stupidi. La Fabbrica della Vespa è parte del disegno perché è parte della vita e – a maggior ragione – della morte.»

La nostra vita è tutta fatta di simboli. Ogni cosa che facciamo è parte di un disegno dove abbiamo comunque voce in capitolo. I forti stabiliscono i propri percorsi e influenzano quelli degli altri, i deboli ce li hanno già segnati. I deboli e gli sfortunati. E gli stupidi. La Fabbrica della Vespa è parte del disegno perché è parte della vita e – a maggior ragione – della morte.

Well, we're all young once, Prentice, and those that are lucky get to be old.

If one could be right every hand, none of us would be here,' he said philosophically.

Somebody said that to become very rich you have to be helped by a combination of remarkable circumstances and an unbroken run of luck.

There was only oneself to praise or blame. Luck was a servant and not a master. Luck had to be accepted with a shrug or taken advantage of up to the hilt.