Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune,
He had not the method of making a fortune.

Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune,
He had not the method of making a fortune.

Any one who is prosperous may by the turn of fortune's wheel
become most wretched before evening.
[Lat., read more

Any one who is prosperous may by the turn of fortune's wheel
become most wretched before evening.
[Lat., Quivis beatus, versa rota fortunae, ante vesperum potest
esse miserrimus.]

Fortune, the great commandress of the world,
Hath divers ways to advance her followers:
To some she read more

Fortune, the great commandress of the world,
Hath divers ways to advance her followers:
To some she gives honor without deserving;
To other some, deserving without honor;
Some wit, some wealth,--and some, wit without wealth;
Some wealth without wit; some nor wit nor wealth.

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.

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.

Fortunes made in no time are like shirts made in no time; it's ten to one if they hang long read more

Fortunes made in no time are like shirts made in no time; it's ten to one if they hang long together.

That which the fountain sends forth returns again to the fountain.

That which the fountain sends forth returns again to the fountain.

Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a read more

Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.

Fortune knocks at every man's door once in a life, but in a good many cases the man is in read more

Fortune knocks at every man's door once in a life, but in a good many cases the man is in a neighboring saloon and does not hear her.