--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A prince may be seen happy today and…" description: "\"“A prince may be seen happy today and ruined tomorrow without having shown any chance in his character. For the prince who relies entirely on fortune i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/neil-jordan-12493_historical-fiction_a-prince-may-be-seen-happy-today-and-rui_1962995.jpg" --- # A prince may be seen happy today and ruined tomorrow… ![“A prince may be seen happy today and ruined tomorrow without having shown any chance in his character. For the prince who relies entirely on fortune is lost when it changes...” quote by Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/neil-jordan-12493_historical-fiction_a-prince-may-be-seen-happy-today-and-rui_1962995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/neil-jordan-12493_historical-fiction_a-prince-may-be-seen-happy-today-and-rui_1962995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/neil-jordan-12493_historical-fiction_a-prince-may-be-seen-happy-today-and-rui_1962995.jpg) > ““A prince may be seen happy today and ruined tomorrow without having shown any chance in his character. For the prince who relies entirely on fortune is lost when it changes...”” [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A prince’s reliance on fortune makes him vulnerable; without stable character, happiness is fleeting and ruin inevitable. **In simple terms:** A prince who depends on luck will fall when luck changes. Key Takeaway Build character beyond luck. Themes leadership fortune character instability Mood cautious inspirational analytical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - leadership training - risk management - character development workshops - storytelling - strategic planning Key Concepts Political theory psychology literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders prepare for sudden changes? - What traits sustain success without external luck? A Different Perspective Fortune can be mitigated but not eliminated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-prince-3251383/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-lost-1432010/) [Happy Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-today/) [Historical fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-fiction/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Prince Relies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince-relies-3251384/) [Prince Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince-seen-3251385/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“But confining myself more to the particular, I say that a prince may be seen happy to-day and ruined to-morrow without having shown any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/but-confining-myself-more-to-the-particular-i-say-that-a-prince-may/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The moment seemed right to me for a full and, if possible, authoritative portrait of the life and character of the Prince of Wales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/the-moment-seemed-right-to-me-for-a-full-and-if-possible/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [“Just as artists who draw landscapes get down in the valley to study the mountains and go up to the mountains to look down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/just-as-artists-who-draw-landscapes-get-down-in-the-valley-to-study/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Specifically, we talked about making the character of the prince not so charming, at least in the beginning, and I'm playing around with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-dancy/specifically-we-talked-about-making-the-character-of-the-prince-not/) [Hugh Dancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-dancy/) > [A prince who relies entirely upon fortune will fail when his fortune changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-prince-who-relies-entirely-upon-fortune-will-fail-when-his-fortune/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-without-having-otherwise/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I got fame and fortune, and I lost my sense of reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-got-fame-and-fortune-and-i-lost-my-sense-of-reasoning/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the arms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-is-always-in-a-hurry-to-be-wealthy-and-immersed-in-the-study/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [It is only when you look now and see success that you say that it was good fortune. 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The one I love most in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/i-am-afraid-of-him-now-the-one-i-love-most-in-the-world/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [“Don't you understand brother? I want to find a love...that will free me from this love...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/don-t-you-understand-brother-i-want-to-find-a-love-that-will-free-me/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [“I actually attack the concept of happiness. The idea that—I don't mind people being happy—but the idea that everything we do is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/i-actually-attack-the-concept-of-happiness-the-idea-that-i-don-t-mind/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) > [Don't cry upon you losses Don't mesure today with tommorows Don't trust to passed and coming day Believe in now - and be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/don-t-cry-upon-you-losses-don-t-mesure-today-with-tommorows-don-t/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) ## More by Neil Jordan > [The End of the Affair is almost like a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/the-end-of-the-affair-is-almost-like-a-play/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [Well, I suppose I'm interested in ways of storytelling and in stories that are about storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/well-i-suppose-i-m-interested-in-ways-of-storytelling-and-in-stories/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [Films have gotten leaner and leaner, cutting out all variations from the story line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/films-have-gotten-leaner-and-leaner-cutting-out-all-variations-from/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [In Dreams... well, I was slightly overcompensating with that. I was a bit like a director for hire, so maybe I was putting too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/in-dreams-well-i-was-slightly-overcompensating-with-that-i-was-a-bit/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [I can't do a film if I don't start with the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/i-can-t-do-a-film-if-i-don-t-start-with-the-writing/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [The whole Ireland was taken over by greed and materialism. It was extraordinary. The price of every house had skyrocketed. If you were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/the-whole-ireland-was-taken-over-by-greed-and-materialism-it-was/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [I took two years away from making films to write a novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/i-took-two-years-away-from-making-films-to-write-a-novel/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [My conception of it was that in a normal film you have a story with different movements that program, develop, go a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/my-conception-of-it-was-that-in-a-normal-film-you-have-a-story-with/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [Never make a promise - you may have to keep it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/never-make-a-promise-you-may-have-to-keep-it/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [If movies have to satisfy every possible quadrant before they're even made, they're dull. You only get great things when people overreach themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/if-movies-have-to-satisfy-every-possible-quadrant-before-they-re-even/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [It's nice to work with Hollywood because there is never any question of resources put at your disposal to make a film as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/it-s-nice-to-work-with-hollywood-because-there-is-never-any-question/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [The Company of Wolves doesn't belong in any category, so it's difficult to prepare an audience for it. It's not a horror film, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/the-company-of-wolves-doesn-t-belong-in-any-category-so-it-s/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [The great thing about fairy tales and myths is that they go beyond character. They're not about character. They're about more basic things. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/the-great-thing-about-fairy-tales-and-myths-is-that-they-go-beyond/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [I've had three novels published, and I was working a little bit in theater in Ireland. I wrote one film script just to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/i-ve-had-three-novels-published-and-i-was-working-a-little-bit-in/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [I hoped that grief was similar to the other emotions. That it would end, the way happiness did. Or laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/i-hoped-that-grief-was-similar-to-the-other-emotions-that-it-would/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) [Explore all 54 Neil Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) ## 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": "“A prince may be seen happy today and ruined tomorrow without having shown any chance in his character. 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