--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But while it was their opportunities that…" description: "\"“But while it was their opportunities that made these men fortunate, it was their own merit that enabled them to recognize these opportunities and turn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_men-fortunate_but-while-it-was-their-opportunities-tha_825363.jpg" --- # But while it was their opportunities that made these men… ![“But while it was their opportunities that made these men fortunate, it was their own merit that enabled them to recognize these opportunities and turn them to account, to the glory and prosperity of their country.” quote by Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_men-fortunate_but-while-it-was-their-opportunities-tha_825363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_men-fortunate_but-while-it-was-their-opportunities-tha_825363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_men-fortunate_but-while-it-was-their-opportunities-tha_825363.jpg) > ““But while it was their opportunities that made these men fortunate, it was their own merit that enabled them to recognize these opportunities and turn them to account, to the glory and prosperity of their country.”” [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends on recognizing and exploiting opportunities, but personal merit is essential to turn them into national benefit. **In simple terms:** Merit lets you use chances for greater good. Key Takeaway Cultivate skill to seize chances. Themes merit opportunity leadership national prosperity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - public service - entrepreneurship - strategic planning Key Concepts Political philosophy human agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you develop merit to recognize opportunities? - What societal factors limit the impact of personal merit? A Different Perspective Merit alone may not overcome structural barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [How do you give smart, accomplished, ambitious women the same opportunities as men to reach their goals? 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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/) > [But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such are those that rule, learn this first of all: that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/but-if-you-know-that-you-are-a-man-too-and-that-even-such-are-those/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [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/) > [The way of fortune is like the milkyway in the sky; 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another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; 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