---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fortune is unstable, while our will is…"
description: "\"Fortune is unstable, while our will is free.\" — Diogenes Laertius"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/diogenes-laertius-13984_fortune_fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-fr_1527393.jpg"
---

#  Fortune is unstable, while our will is free.

![“Fortune is unstable, while our will is free.” quote by Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/diogenes-laertius-13984_fortune_fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-fr_1527393.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/diogenes-laertius-13984_fortune_fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-fr_1527393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/diogenes-laertius-13984_fortune_fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-fr_1527393.jpg)

> “Fortune is unstable, while our will is free.”

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Fortune is unpredictable, yet human will remains free to choose actions.

**In simple terms:** Fortune changes, will stays free.

Key Takeaway

Focus on choices, not outcomes.

Themes

fortune will freedom philosophy ethics

Mood

reflective philosophical

Type

inspirational thoughtful

When to use this quote

- financial planning
- career decisions
- personal resilience
- health choices

Key Concepts

Stoicism determinism agency

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you control when fortune is unstable?
- How does free will shape your response?

A Different Perspective

Even with free will, external events can limit outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Unstable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-unstable-5659401/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Unstable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unstable/) [Unstable Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unstable-free-5659402/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

## Related quotes

> [From these inconsiderable attempts, some idea may be formed with what success, should Fortune afford an opportunity, I am likely to treat matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giraldus-cambrensis/from-these-inconsiderable-attempts-some-idea-may-be-formed-with-what/)

[Giraldus Cambrensis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giraldus-cambrensis/)

> [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [Behind every great fortune, there lies a great crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/behind-every-great-fortune-there-lies-a-great-crime/)

[Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/)

> [Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/luck-is-not-chance-it-s-toil-fortune-s-expensive-smile-is-earned/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [The man who begins to speculate in stocks with the intention of making a fortune usually goes broke, whereas the man who trades with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dow/the-man-who-begins-to-speculate-in-stocks-with-the-intention-of/)

[Charles Dow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dow/)

> [Fortune helps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/fortune-helps-the-brave/)

[Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/)

> [Behind every great Fortune, there is a crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/behind-every-great-fortune-there-is-a-crime/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“... fortune is not in time or place or things; but, good or bad, in the man’s own self for him alone to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-fitzpatrick/fortune-is-not-in-time-or-place-or-things-but-good-or-bad-in-the-man/)

[Percy FitzPatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-fitzpatrick/)

> [“We can so educate the will power that it will focus the thoughts upon the bright side of things, and upon objects which elevate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-can-so-educate-the-will-power-that-it-will-focus-the-thoughts-upon/)

[Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/)

> [What is taken from the fortune, also, may haply be so much lifted from the soul. The greatness of a loss, as the proverb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/what-is-taken-from-the-fortune-also-may-haply-be-so-much-lifted-from/)

[Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/)

> [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

> [A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/a-writer-can-make-a-fortune-in-america-but-he-can-t-make-a-living/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“This is your life. This is yours. You can establish an exact inventory of your meager fortune, the precise balance sheet of your first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-perec/this-is-your-life-this-is-yours-you-can-establish-an-exact-inventory/)

[Georges Perec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-perec/)

## More by Diogenes Laertius

> [Pythagoras used to say that he had received as a gift from Mercury the perpetual transmigration of his soul, so that it was constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/pythagoras-used-to-say-that-he-had-received-as-a-gift-from-mercury/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Anarcharsis, on learning that the sides of a ship were four fingers thick, said that "the passengers were just that distance from death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/anarcharsis-on-learning-that-the-sides-of-a-ship-were-four-fingers/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Courage, my boy! that is the complexion of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/courage-my-boy-that-is-the-complexion-of-virtue/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Aristippus said that a wise man's country was the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/aristippus-said-that-a-wise-man-s-country-was-the-world/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Arcesilaus had a peculiar habit while conversing of using the expression, "My opinion is," and "So and so will not agree to this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/arcesilaus-had-a-peculiar-habit-while-conversing-of-using-the/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Bion used to say that the way to the shades below was easy; he could go there with his eyes shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/bion-used-to-say-that-the-way-to-the-shades-below-was-easy-he-could/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Diogenes said once to a person who was showing him a dial, "It is a very useful thing to save a man from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/diogenes-said-once-to-a-person-who-was-showing-him-a-dial-it-is-a/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [“Step out of my sunlight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/step-out-of-my-sunlight/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Plato affirmed that the soul was immortal and clothed in many bodies successively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/plato-affirmed-that-the-soul-was-immortal-and-clothed-in-many-bodies/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [When asked what learning was the most necessary, he said, Not to unlearn what you have learned!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/when-asked-what-learning-was-the-most-necessary-he-said-not-to/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Anaximander used to assert that the primary cause of all things was the Infinite,-not defining exactly whether he meant air or water or anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/anaximander-used-to-assert-that-the-primary-cause-of-all-things-was/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [If appearances are deceitful, then they do not deserve any confidence when they assert what appears to them to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/if-appearances-are-deceitful-then-they-do-not-deserve-any-confidence/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [There is a written and an unwritten law. The one by which we regulate our constitutions in our cities is the written law; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/there-is-a-written-and-an-unwritten-law-the-one-by-which-we-regulate/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [Aristippus being asked what were the most necessary things for well-born boys to learn, said, "Those things which they will put in practice when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/aristippus-being-asked-what-were-the-most-necessary-things-for-well/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

> [“One day a man invited him into a richly furnished house, saying 'be careful not to spit on the floor.' Diogenes, who needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/one-day-a-man-invited-him-into-a-richly-furnished-house-saying-be/)

[Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

[Explore all 48 Diogenes Laertius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/)

## More Fortune quotes

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/)

[Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/)

> [From these inconsiderable attempts, some idea may be formed with what success, should Fortune afford an opportunity, I am likely to treat matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giraldus-cambrensis/from-these-inconsiderable-attempts-some-idea-may-be-formed-with-what/)

[Giraldus Cambrensis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giraldus-cambrensis/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

> [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [You have a little bit of talent, a certain amount of good fortune and a lot of hard work in pursuit of whatever truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/you-have-a-little-bit-of-talent-a-certain-amount-of-good-fortune-and/)

[Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/)

> [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [No state of society or laws can render men so much alike but that education, fortune, and tastes will interpose some differences between them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/no-state-of-society-or-laws-can-render-men-so-much-alike-but-that/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [A great JRPG captures that feeling of going on an unusual adventure, of bringing a ragtag group of heroes from famine to fortune or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schreier/a-great-jrpg-captures-that-feeling-of-going-on-an-unusual-adventure/)

[Jason Schreier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schreier/)

> [A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/a-writer-can-make-a-fortune-in-america-but-he-can-t-make-a-living/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

> [What is taken from the fortune, also, may haply be so much lifted from the soul. The greatness of a loss, as the proverb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/what-is-taken-from-the-fortune-also-may-haply-be-so-much-lifted-from/)

[Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/)

> [“We can so educate the will power that it will focus the thoughts upon the bright side of things, and upon objects which elevate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-can-so-educate-the-will-power-that-it-will-focus-the-thoughts-upon/)

[Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/)

> [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

[Browse all 2,945 Fortune quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Fortune is unstable, while our will is free.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Diogenes Laertius"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-free/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fortune"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-free/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/diogenes-laertius-13984_fortune_fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-fr_1527393.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/diogenes-laertius-13984_fortune_fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-fr_1527393.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/diogenes-laertius-13984_fortune_fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-fr_1527393.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Fortune is unstable, while our will is free.” — Diogenes Laertius",
                "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": "Diogenes Laertius",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Fortune is unstable, while our will...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-free/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/fortune-is-unstable-while-our-will-is-free/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
