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About this quote

What does it mean?
Govern fortune like health: enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad.
In plain terms
Accept luck with gratitude when things go well and with patience when they do not.
What can you take from it?
Adapt your attitude to good and bad luck.

Where it applies

  • life changes
  • uncertainty

Putting it to work

  • practice patience in hardship

Questions to consider

  • How do you handle sudden bad luck?

Another view

Some misfortunes are not just bad luck but injustice.

More from Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  1. Ce qui nous rend la vanite des autres insupportable, c'est qu'elle blesse la notre.

    Permalink to quote #90

  2. Il y a du merite sans elevation, mais il n'y a point d'elevation sans quelque merite.

    Permalink to quote #92

  3. Il n'y a point de gens qui aient plus souvent tort que ceux qui ne peuvent souffrir d'en avoir.

    Permalink to quote #89

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