---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fortune is like a coquette; if you don't…"
description: "\"Fortune is like a coquette; if you don't run after her, she will run after you.\" — Josh Billings"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/josh-billings-777_coquette_fortune-is-like-a-coquette-if-you-don-t_330012.png"
---

#  Fortune is like a coquette; if you don't run after her…

![“Fortune is like a coquette; if you don't run after her, she will run after you.” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/josh-billings-777_coquette_fortune-is-like-a-coquette-if-you-don-t_330012.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/josh-billings-777_coquette_fortune-is-like-a-coquette-if-you-don-t_330012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/josh-billings-777_coquette_fortune-is-like-a-coquette-if-you-don-t_330012.png)

> “Fortune is like a coquette; if you don't run after her, she will run after you.”

[Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

## About This Quote

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

Attraction favors those who pursue it; passivity leads to missed chances.

**In simple terms:** Chase what you want, or it may chase you.

Key Takeaway

Be proactive in love and ambition.

Themes

courtship initiative desire

Mood

playful encouraging

Type

advice humorous

When to use this quote

- dating
- career networking
- business negotiations

Key Concepts

reciprocity effort confidence

Questions to Reflect On

- Are you waiting for opportunities to come to you?
- How does initiative change outcomes?

A Different Perspective

If you chase too aggressively, you may push away the object of desire.

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[Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

## Related quotes

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> [Fortune is like glass - the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/fortune-is-like-glass-the-brighter-the-glitter-the-more-easily-broken/)

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[William Somervile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somervile/)

> [Fortune is like glass; she breaks when she is brightest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/fortune-is-like-glass-she-breaks-when-she-is-brightest/)

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> [“We should manage fortune like our health, enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad, and never resort to strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-hull-chatlien/we-should-manage-fortune-like-our-health-enjoy-it-when-it-is-good-be/)

Ruth Hull Chatlien

> [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/)

> [A broken fortune is like a falling column; the lower it sinks, the greater weight it has to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-broken-fortune-is-like-a-falling-column-the-lower-it-sinks-the/)

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

> [Fortune is like the market, where, many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/fortune-is-like-the-market-where-many-times-if-you-can-stay-a-little/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [Dame Fortune, like most others of the female sex, is generally most indulgent to the nimble-mettled blockheads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/dame-fortune-like-most-others-of-the-female-sex-is-generally-most/)

[Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/)

> [Fortune, like a coy mistress, loves to yield her favors, though she makes us wrest them from her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/fortune-like-a-coy-mistress-loves-to-yield-her-favors-though-she/)

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

> [Fortune his like the market, where many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon-sr/fortune-his-like-the-market-where-many-times-if-you-can-stay-a-little/)

[Francis Bacon Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon-sr/)

> [It is often the easiest move that completes the game. Fortune is like the lady whom a lover carried off from all his rivals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-often-the-easiest-move-that-completes-the-game-fortune-is-like/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [Fortune is like a wall that falls on those who lean on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/fortune-is-like-a-wall-that-falls-on-those-who-lean-on-it/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

## More by Josh Billings

> [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/)

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> [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/)

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> [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/)

[Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

> [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/)

[Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

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[Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

> [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/)

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[Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

## More Coquette quotes

> [New vows to plight, and plighted vows to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/new-vows-to-plight-and-plighted-vows-to-break/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [It is a species of coquetry to make a parade of never practising it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-a-species-of-coquetry-to-make-a-parade-of-never-practising-it/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor of women; but they do not all practice it, because the coquetry of some is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/coquetry-is-the-essential-characteristic-and-the-prevalent-humor-of/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Women find it far more difficult to overcome their inclination to coquetry than to overcome their love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/women-find-it-far-more-difficult-to-overcome-their-inclination-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [dont undress my love you might find a mannequin dont undress the mannequin you might find love. shes long ago forgotten me. hes trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/dont-undress-my-love-you-might-find-a-mannequin-dont-undress-the/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [He who wins a thousand common hearts is entitled to some renown; but he who keeps undisputed sway over the heart of a coquette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-wins-a-thousand-common-hearts-is-entitled-to-some-renown-but/)

[Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/)

> [Beautiful coquettes are quacks of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/beautiful-coquettes-are-quacks-of-love/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

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> [Coquettes are, but too rare. It is a career that requires great abilities, infinite pains, a gay and airy spirit. 'T is the coquette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/coquettes-are-but-too-rare-it-is-a-career-that-requires-great/)

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

> [A modern writer likens coquettes to those hunters who do not eat the game which they have successfully pursued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/a-modern-writer-likens-coquettes-to-those-hunters-who-do-not-eat-the/)

[Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/)

> [A coquette is like a recruiting sergeant, always on the lookout for fresh victims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-coquette-is-like-a-recruiting-sergeant-always-on-the-lookout-for/)

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

> [Wit resembles a coquette; those who the most eagerly run after it are the least favored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chenier/wit-resembles-a-coquette-those-who-the-most-eagerly-run-after-it-are/)

Joseph Chenier

> [Any woman may act the part of a coquette successfully who has the reputation without the scruples of modesty. If a woman passes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/any-woman-may-act-the-part-of-a-coquette-successfully-who-has-the/)

[William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/)

> [Coquetry is the champagne of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/coquetry-is-the-champagne-of-love/)

[Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/)

Browse all 42 Coquette quotes

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