“There is no accident so unfortunate that clever men cannot draw some advantage from it, nor so fortunate that foolish men cannot turn it to their disadvantage.”François de La Rochefoucauld · Maxime · 1665 · Maxima 59
La Rochefoucauld shows that the outcome of an event depends more on the person than on chance. A clever person can turn a financial crisis into a lesson or opportunity, while a foolish one can squander an inheritance or make mistakes even when luck smiles on them.
Why it matters It encourages us to develop the ability to turn obstacles into resources, rather than complaining about fate.