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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, 1897

Luck takes the step that no one sees.

—Publilius Syrus, c. 50 BC

’Tis not a ridiculous devotion to say a prayer before a game at tables?

—Thomas Browne, 1642

When the abbot throws the dice, the whole convent will play.

—Martin Luther, c. 1540

Those who trust to chance must abide by the results of chance.

—Calvin Coolidge, 1932

Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.

—William Shakespeare, c. 1610

Good or ill fortune is very little at our disposal.

—David Hume, 1742

One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards.

—Oscar Wilde, 1895

Good 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 BC

You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.

—Cormac McCarthy, 2005

Casting lots causes contentions to cease, and keeps the mighty apart.

—Book of Proverbs, c. 350 BC

We do not suffer by accident. 

—Jane Austen, 1813

Misfortune, n. The kind of fortune that never misses.

—Ambrose Bierce, 1906
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