“He who does not know how to make use of fortune, does not deserve it.”Baltasar Gracián · Oracolul manual · 1647 · aforismul 21
Fortune must be skillfully exploited, not just passively received.
Gracián, a moralist of prudence, rejects the idea that luck is enough. An opportunity unused or poorly managed is as useless as one that never came. Deserving luck means having the wisdom to capitalize on it. For instance, an inheritance can be squandered in a few years by a reckless person, while a prudent one turns it into a lasting business.
Why it matters It encourages us to be prepared and strategic, not to wait passively for luck to solve everything.