The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing…
““The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck, of fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich, they say, "How lucky he is!" Observing another become intellectual, they exclaim, "How highly favoured he is!" And noting the saintly character and wide influence of another, they remark, "How chance aids him at every turn!" They do not see the trials and failures and struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the Vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heartaches; they only see the light and joy, and call it "luck". They do not see the long and arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal, and call it "good fortune," do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it chance.””
About This Quote
People mistake visible success for luck, overlooking the hidden effort, sacrifice, and perseverance that truly create achievement.
In simple terms: Luck is misread; success hides hard work.
Key Takeaway
Effort, not luck, drives achievement.
Themes
success
effort
perception
Mood
analytical
encouraging
Type
reflection
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- academic achievement
- entrepreneurship
Key Concepts
attribution bias
resilience
Practical Applications
- document your process
- share behind‑the‑scenes stories
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you recognize hidden effort in others?
- When have you misattributed success to luck?
A Different Perspective
Some outcomes are genuinely influenced by chance despite effort.