To put one’s trust in God is only a longer way of saying that one will chance it.
—Samuel Butler, c. 1890
Archive
Quotes
There are two times in a man’s life when he should not speculate: when he can’t afford it, and when he can.
—Mark Twain, 1897Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.
—William Shakespeare, c. 1610Luck takes the step that no one sees.
—Publilius Syrus, c. 50 BCLuck is not something you can mention in the presence of self-made men.
—E.B. White, 1944’Tis not a ridiculous devotion to say a prayer before a game at tables?
—Thomas Browne, 1642Misfortune, n. The kind of fortune that never misses.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1906When the abbot throws the dice, the whole convent will play.
—Martin Luther, c. 1540Good fortune is light as a feather, but nobody knows how to hold it up. Misfortune is heavy as the earth, but nobody knows how to stay out of its way.
—Zhuangzi, c. 300 BCFortune resists half-hearted prayers.
—Ovid, 8Casting lots causes contentions to cease, and keeps the mighty apart.
—Book of Proverbs, c. 350 BCIt is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear.
—Charlotte Brontë, 1847Luck is believing you’re lucky.
—William Carlos Williams, 1947