--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But if you know that you are a man too…" description: "\"But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such are those that rule, learn this first of all: that all human affairs are a wheel which, as i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/herodotus-2844_affair_but-if-you-know-that-you-are-a-man-too-a_2621574.jpg" --- # But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such… ![“But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such are those that rule, learn this first of all: that all human affairs are a wheel which, as it turns, does not allow the same men always to be fortunate.” quote by Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/herodotus-2844_affair_but-if-you-know-that-you-are-a-man-too-a_2621574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/herodotus-2844_affair_but-if-you-know-that-you-are-a-man-too-a_2621574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/herodotus-2844_affair_but-if-you-know-that-you-are-a-man-too-a_2621574.jpg) > “But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such are those that rule, learn this first of all: that all human affairs are a wheel which, as it turns, does not allow the same men always to be fortunate.” [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human fortunes change like a wheel; no one stays lucky forever, reminding us of life's cyclical nature. **In simple terms:** Luck is fleeting and cycles. Key Takeaway Prepare for change and stay humble. Themes fortune change inequality history Mood cautious reflective Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - financial investing - personal relationships Key Concepts political theory social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle sudden changes in luck? - What can you do to sustain success over time? A Different Perspective Predicting cycles is difficult; overconfidence can be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [The wheel turns and turns and turns: it never stops and stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/the-wheel-turns-and-turns-and-turns-it-never-stops-and-stands-still/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [Even in the scorched and frozen world of the dead after the holocaust The wheel as it turns goes on accreting ornaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pinsky/even-in-the-scorched-and-frozen-world-of-the-dead-after-the-holocaust/) [Robert Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pinsky/) > [Fate is a wheel that turns without our hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/fate-is-a-wheel-that-turns-without-our-hand/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [Teaching is another area I like to explore. I've had a lot of great role models and people who have taken the time over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-strangis/teaching-is-another-area-i-like-to-explore-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-great/) [Ralph Strangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-strangis/) > [The way of fortune is like the milkyway in the sky; which is a number of small stars, not seen asunder, but giving light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-way-of-fortune-is-like-the-milkyway-in-the-sky-which-is-a-number/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Alas for the affairs of men! When they are fortunate you might compare them to a shadow; and if they are unfortunate, a wet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/alas-for-the-affairs-of-men-when-they-are-fortunate-you-might-compare/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [The way of fortune is like the milky way in the sky; which is a meeting, or knot, of a number of small stars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-way-of-fortune-is-like-the-milky-way-in-the-sky-which-is-a/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The way of fortune is like the milky way in the sky; which is a number of smaller stars, not seen asunder, but giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon-sr/the-way-of-fortune-is-like-the-milky-way-in-the-sky-which-is-a-number/) [Francis Bacon Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon-sr/) > [“But while it was their opportunities that made these men fortunate, it was their own merit that enabled them to recognize these opportunities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/but-while-it-was-their-opportunities-that-made-these-men-fortunate-it/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Very few men are fortunate enough to gain distinction during their first term in Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/very-few-men-are-fortunate-enough-to-gain-distinction-during-their/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [“Here’s another way. 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What he then demands of himself is unnecessary achievement - and unnecessary sacrifice. He artificially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/sports-allow-men-to-build-up-situations-of-emergency-what-he-then/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [That a man be willing, when others are so too, as far forth as for peace and defense of himself he shall think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/that-a-man-be-willing-when-others-are-so-too-as-far-forth-as-for/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) ## More by Herodotus > [Haste in every business brings failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/haste-in-every-business-brings-failures/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [A real friend ... exults in his friend’s happiness, rejoices in all his joys, and is ready to afford him the best advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/a-real-friend-exults-in-his-friend-s-happiness-rejoices-in-all-his/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/some-men-give-up-their-designs-when-they-have-almost-reached-the-goal/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [I know that human happiness never remains long in the same place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/i-know-that-human-happiness-never-remains-long-in-the-same-place/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Happiness is not fame or riches or heroic virtues, but a state that will inspire posterity to think in reflecting upon our life, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/happiness-is-not-fame-or-riches-or-heroic-virtues-but-a-state-that/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [But I like not these great success of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/but-i-like-not-these-great-success-of-yours-for-i-know-how-jealous/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give lustre, and many more people see than weigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/knowledge-may-give-weight-but-accomplishments-give-lustre-and-many/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/very-few-things-happen-at-the-right-time-and-the-rest-do-not-happen/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [ They \[the Persians\] are accustomed to deliberate on matters of the highest moment when warm with wine; but whatever they in this situation may… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/they-the-persians-are-accustomed-to-deliberate-on-matters-of-the/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/circumstances-rule-men-men-do-not-rule-circumstances/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [To think well and to consent to obey someone giving good advice are the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/to-think-well-and-to-consent-to-obey-someone-giving-good-advice-are/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Unless a variety of opinions are laid before us, we have no opportunity of selection, but are bound of necessity to adopt the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/unless-a-variety-of-opinions-are-laid-before-us-we-have-no/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Of all possessions a friend is the most precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/of-all-possessions-a-friend-is-the-most-precious/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Those who are guided by reason are generally successful in their plans; those who are rash and precipitate seldom enjoy the favour of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/those-who-are-guided-by-reason-are-generally-successful-in-their/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [The gods loves to punish whatever is greater than the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/the-gods-loves-to-punish-whatever-is-greater-than-the-rest/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) [Explore all 145 Herodotus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." 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