“Every wise, just, and fortunate man that ever existed owed his greatness, in the first place, to the universal favor of fortune; and in the second, to his own peculiar diligence and virtue”
— David Hume
Simplified Meaning:
No matter how wise, fair, or successful a person is, they owe a lot of their success to good luck and the opportunities that come their way. However, beyond just being lucky, they also become great by working hard and having strong morals. For instance, imagine someone who becomes a famous athlete. They might have had natural talent and the chance to join a good team (that’s the luck part). But to really succeed, they also need to practice a lot, stay disciplined, and make good choices. So, while being in the right place at the right time helps, it’s equally important to put in the effort and act rightly once you have that chance. This perspective can be helpful in our own lives: when opportunities come, we should grab them and work hard, while also being ethical and diligent. It means recognizing the role of both luck and hard work in achieving our goals.
