It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one. Fortune bestows the one, merit obtains the other.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
All good fortune is a gift of the gods, and you don't win the favor of the ancient gods by being good, but by being bold.
Better not be at all than not be noble.
Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgment.
There are three attributes for which I am grateful to Fortune: that I was born, first, human and not animal; second, man and not woman; and third, Greek and not barbarian.
The responsibilities which are imposed by rank and privilege and good fortune can... become very onerous indeed.
Noble bold is an accident of fortune; noble actions characterize the great.
It seems to never occur to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.
What is high birth to him to whom high birth has never been the theme of his contemplation? What is a throne to him who has never dreamed of a throne?
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.
The sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.