Fortune is a great deceiver. She sells very dear the things she seems to give us.

Fortune is a great deceiver. She sells very dear the things she seems to give us.

Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.

Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.

To attract good fortune, spend a new penny on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend read more

To attract good fortune, spend a new penny on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon.

The day of fortune is like a harvest day,
We must be busy when the corn is ripe.
read more

The day of fortune is like a harvest day,
We must be busy when the corn is ripe.
[Ger., Ein tag der Gunst ist wie ein Tag der Ernte,
Man muss geschaftig sein sobald sie reift.]

When Fortune smiles, I smile to think how quickly she will frown.

When Fortune smiles, I smile to think how quickly she will frown.

Just for a handful of silver he left us,
Just for a ribbon to stick in his coat;
read more

Just for a handful of silver he left us,
Just for a ribbon to stick in his coat;
Found the one gift of which Fortune bereft us,
Lost all the others she lets us devote.

That conceit, elegantly expressed by the Emperor Charles V., in
his instructions to the King, his son, "that fortune read more

That conceit, elegantly expressed by the Emperor Charles V., in
his instructions to the King, his son, "that fortune hath
somewhat the nature of a woman, that if she be too much wooed she
is the farther off."

Fortune rarely accompanies anyone to the door.

Fortune rarely accompanies anyone to the door.

Every individual is the architect of his own fortune.

Every individual is the architect of his own fortune.