--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fortune, seeing that she could not make…" description: "\"Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fools_fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-f_2451184.jpg" --- # Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has… ![“Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fools_fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-f_2451184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fools_fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-f_2451184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fools_fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-f_2451184.jpg) > “Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He observes that when wisdom fails, fortune compensates with luck. **In simple terms:** When wisdom fails, luck steps in. Key Takeaway Accept luck as a complement to wisdom. Themes philosophy fortune wisdom Mood contemplative balanced Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal setbacks - career changes - financial planning Key Concepts determinism randomness Questions to Reflect On - Do you attribute success to skill or luck? - How can one prepare for unpredictable fortune? A Different Perspective Reliance on luck can undermine personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Fools Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools-wise-424889/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-seeing-571488/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-lucky-571487/) ## Related quotes > [Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way - and the fools know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/controversy-equalizes-fools-and-wise-men-in-the-same-way-and-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/) > [“The whole humanity can be divided into two categories: the fools and the wise. The first category the fools are those who live from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-dhyan-giten/the-whole-humanity-can-be-divided-into-two-categories-the-fools-and/) [Swami Dhyan Giten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-dhyan-giten/) > [The world has been made by fools that wise men may live in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-world-has-been-made-by-fools-that-wise-men-may-live-in-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Fools call wise men fools. A wise man never calls any man a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/fools-call-wise-men-fools-a-wise-man-never-calls-any-man-a-fool/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Imagination cannot make fools wise, but it makes them happy, as against reason, which only makes its friends wretched: one covers them with glory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-cannot-make-fools-wise-but-it-makes-them-happy-as-against/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Wise men are more dependent on fools than fools on wise men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-younger/wise-men-are-more-dependent-on-fools-than-fools-on-wise-men/) [Cato the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-younger/) > [Fortune, to show us her power in all things, and to abate our presumption, seeing she could not make fools wise, has made them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fortune-to-show-us-her-power-in-all-things-and-to-abate-our/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A wise and lucky person is one who can keep balance between family love and love for his wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-wise-and-lucky-person-is-one-who-can-keep-balance-between-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wise men have more to learn of fools than fools of wise men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/wise-men-have-more-to-learn-of-fools-than-fools-of-wise-men/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“If you are wise and lucky and live long as me, you will learn this pain is just a drop in the sea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/if-you-are-wise-and-lucky-and-live-long-as-me-you-will-learn-this/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [If a man is both wise and lucky, he will not make the same mistake twice. But he will make any one of ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lauriston-livermore/if-a-man-is-both-wise-and-lucky-he-will-not-make-the-same-mistake/) [Jesse Lauriston Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lauriston-livermore/) > [Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/cato-used-to-assert-that-wise-men-profited-more-by-fools-than-fools/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The Bible is the book that makes fools of the wise of this world; it is only understood by the plain and simple hearted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-bible-is-the-book-that-makes-fools-of-the-wise-of-this-world-it/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Hello everyone (Fools & Wise Ones)! Welcome to New Month, April! A month known for sunshine, spring vibes & it’s fool’s day. Honestly speaking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-goyal-2/hello-everyone-fools-wise-ones-welcome-to-new-month-april-a-month/) [Rajesh Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-goyal-2/) > [“it is only among fools that the wise are judged to be destitute of wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-only-among-fools-that-the-wise-are-judged-to-be-destitute-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Fools quotes > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That's one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/the-majority-is-never-right-never-i-tell-you-that-s-one-of-these-lies/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“What would have been the fate of sages if there were no fools?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/what-would-have-been-the-fate-of-sages-if-there-were-no-fools/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [“Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverbs-16-22-bible-kjv/understanding-is-a-wellspring-of-life-unto-him-that-hath-it-but-the/) [Proverbs 16:22 Bible KJV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverbs-16-22-bible-kjv/) > [“stultorum infnitus est numerus (the number of fools is infinite)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ecclesiastes/stultorum-infnitus-est-numerus-the-number-of-fools-is-infinite/) [Ecclesiastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ecclesiastes/) > [Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/fools-learn-from-experience-i-prefer-to-learn-from-the-experience-of/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-wise-are-wise-only-because-they-love-the-fool-are-fools-only/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“that's what i mean about cats. they're always trying to make fools of us humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/that-s-what-i-mean-about-cats-they-re-always-trying-to-make-fools-of/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“I wish one half the world were not fools, and the other half idiots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-fern/i-wish-one-half-the-world-were-not-fools-and-the-other-half-idiots/) [Fanny Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-fern/) > [“What name do you use then, for two people who help each other?” “Why are they helping each other?” “Simply to be kind, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-manning/what-name-do-you-use-then-for-two-people-who-help-each-other-why-are/) [Michael G. Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-manning/) > [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Today is April Fools Day. Believe nothing, and trust no one...So it's like any other day. Right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-is-april-fools-day-believe-nothing-and-trust-no-one-so-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,204 Fools quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-fools-wise-has-made-them-lucky/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fools" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-fools-wise-has-made-them-lucky/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fools_fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-f_2451184.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fools_fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-f_2451184.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fools_fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-f_2451184.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fortune, seeing that she could not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-fools-wise-has-made-them-lucky/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fortune-seeing-that-she-could-not-make-fools-wise-has-made-them-lucky/#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 } } ] } ```