--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been very fortunate in worldly…" description: "\"I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so well; but I never could have done what I hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/charles-dickens-34_determination_i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-ma_1624815.jpg" --- # I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men… ![“I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so well; but I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one object at a time, no matter…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/charles-dickens-34_determination_i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-ma_1624815.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/charles-dickens-34_determination_i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-ma_1624815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/charles-dickens-34_determination_i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-ma_1624815.jpg) > “I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so well; but I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one object at a time, no matter how quickly its successor should come upon its heels, which I then formed.” [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends on punctuality, order, diligence, and focused effort despite rapid changes. **In simple terms:** Hard work plus disciplined habits lead to achievement. Key Takeaway Cultivate disciplined habits and focus. Themes discipline focus habit success effort Mood determined reflective Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career advancement - academic study - personal projects - entrepreneurship Key Concepts time management goal setting resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain focus when priorities shift? - What habits support your productivity? A Different Perspective Neglecting flexibility can hinder adaptation to new opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Diligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diligence/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate/) [Fortunate Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate-worldly-321209/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Habits Punctuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits-punctuality-321210/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Heels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heels/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Punctuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punctuality/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Successors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successors/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Words of wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-wisdom/) [Worked Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worked-harder/) [Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly/) ## Related quotes > [I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-never-could-have-done-what-i-have-done-without-the-habits-of-2/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-never-could-have-done-what-i-have-done-without-the-habits-of/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I've never been happy with the quality of my work. I always felt as though my musicianship was lacking and that I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-ve-never-been-happy-with-the-quality-of-my-work-i-always-felt-as/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [When one day I leave Manchester United I don't want to think, 'I should have analysed the opponent more, I should have worked harder.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/when-one-day-i-leave-manchester-united-i-don-t-want-to-think-i-should/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [“I told the others which trees to chop, where to get the mud, even though I was not the official leader. My father used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haing-ngor/i-told-the-others-which-trees-to-chop-where-to-get-the-mud-even/) [Haing Ngor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haing-ngor/) > [One of my contemporaries, a colorless chap who worked much harder at his law studies, is now Prime Minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/one-of-my-contemporaries-a-colorless-chap-who-worked-much-harder-at/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > [We inculcate young people with the message that if they don't succeed, it is merely of their own doing. They should have worked harder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-smith/we-inculcate-young-people-with-the-message-that-if-they-don-t-succeed/) [Clint Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-smith/) > [A price has to be paid for success. Almost invariably those who have reached the summits worked harder and longer, studied and planned more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/a-price-has-to-be-paid-for-success-almost-invariably-those-who-have/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [I'm not sure I've ever been around anybody that wanted to win more or worked harder than Michael Jordan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-m-not-sure-i-ve-ever-been-around-anybody-that-wanted-to-win-more-or/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [“because of them, he worked all the harder in his thirties and forties to “make himself,” emotionally as well as materially, and go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wolf-shenk/because-of-them-he-worked-all-the-harder-in-his-thirties-and-forties/) [Joshua Wolf Shenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wolf-shenk/) > [In my life, I've been a movie star, a rock star, and a sports star, all wrapped up into one-and worked harder at it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-flair/in-my-life-i-ve-been-a-movie-star-a-rock-star-and-a-sports-star-all/) [Ric Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-flair/) > [Poor people want to be poor; if they just worked harder they could have more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-b-pinn/poor-people-want-to-be-poor-if-they-just-worked-harder-they-could/) [Anthony B Pinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-b-pinn/) > [I don't have to be smarter than anybody else. I've just plain worked harder and longer than anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hawkes/i-don-t-have-to-be-smarter-than-anybody-else-i-ve-just-plain-worked/) [Graham Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hawkes/) > [I've always resented the smug statements of politicians, media commentators, corporate executives who talked of how, in America, if you worked hard you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-ve-always-resented-the-smug-statements-of-politicians-media/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [the times we worked harder to make the day stand out. our story demanded that we change and so we did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-times-we-worked-harder-to-make-the-day-stand-out-our-story/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) ## More by Charles Dickens > [“All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a curious thing. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-other-swindlers-upon-earth-are-nothing-to-the-self-swindlers-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mrs-joe-was-a-very-clean-housekeeper-but-had-an-exquisite-art-of/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“evening, they began to think that although he could never hope to be an Englishman, still it would be hard to visit that affliction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/evening-they-began-to-think-that-although-he-could-never-hope-to-be/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Besides which, all that I could have said of the Story to any purpose, I had endeavoured to say in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/besides-which-all-that-i-could-have-said-of-the-story-to-any-purpose/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The wheels rolled on, and rolled down by the Monument, and by the Tower; and by the Docks; down by Ratcliffe, and by Rotherhithe;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-wheels-rolled-on-and-rolled-down-by-the-monument-and-by-the-tower/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The three customers pulled off their hats to Madame Defarge, with three flourishes. She acknowledged their homage by bending her head, and giving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-three-customers-pulled-off-their-hats-to-madame-defarge-with/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Explore all 2,309 Charles Dickens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More Determination quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [In 1990, when they asked me to shoot a cover for 'British Vogue' to convey my personal vision of a woman, I explained that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/in-1990-when-they-asked-me-to-shoot-a-cover-for-british-vogue-to/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't let a breath escape from your body without Krishna's name. That should be our determination throughout our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/don-t-let-a-breath-escape-from-your-body-without-krishna-s-name-that/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“The real failure is not the one who falls down, it's the one who refuses to get up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/the-real-failure-is-not-the-one-who-falls-down-it-s-the-one-who/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [“I AM ALL ABOUT SELF-DETERMINATION. Will. Control. I determine my path in life. I decide my failures and successes. Screw fate. Destiny can kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/i-am-all-about-self-determination-will-control-i-determine-my-path-in/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) [Browse all 3,068 Determination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so well; but I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one object at a time, no matter how quickly its successor should come upon its heels, which I then formed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Dickens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-matters-many-men-have-worked/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Determination" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-matters-many-men-have-worked/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/charles-dickens-34_determination_i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-ma_1624815.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/charles-dickens-34_determination_i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-ma_1624815.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/charles-dickens-34_determination_i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-ma_1624815.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so…” — Charles Dickens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Dickens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have been very fortunate in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-matters-many-men-have-worked/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-been-very-fortunate-in-worldly-matters-many-men-have-worked/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```