#Luck

How Hard Work Manufactures Its Own Luck

At first hearing, the line often credited to Thomas Jefferson sounds like a wink at fortune; yet on closer inspection it reframes luck as readiness meeting opportunity. Work, in this view, is not a talisman but a preparation engine, sharpening skills and building a reservoir of options. Louis Pasteur’s dictum, “Chance favors the prepared mind” (1854), captures the same logic from a scientific angle: preparation turns randomness into usable advantage. By accumulating competence and momentum, effort converts near-misses into hits and long shots into plausible outcomes. Thus, the aphorism invites us to treat luck less as a lottery and more as a probability we can influence. [...]

We Must Believe in Luck – Jean Cocteau

Cocteau subtly points out that luck does play a role in success, but it is often used as an excuse by those who refuse to acknowledge another’s efforts or skills. [...]

Success Is Simply a Matter of Luck — Earl Wilson

By framing success as 'luck' through the lens of failure, the quote indirectly encourages individuals to reflect on their own efforts and responsibilities instead of relying on external explanations for outcomes. [...]

The More I Practice, The Luckier I Get - Gary Player

By linking practice with luck, this quote reflects the mindset of being prepared. Those who practice regularly put themselves in the best position to succeed when opportunities arise, seemingly ‘getting lucky.’ [...]