--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When fortune wishes to bring mighty…" description: "\"When fortune wishes to bring mighty events to a successful conclusion, she selects some man of spirit and ability who knows how to seize the opportunit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ability_when-fortune-wishes-to-bring-mighty-even_3190111.jpg" --- # When fortune wishes to bring mighty events to a successful… ![“When fortune wishes to bring mighty events to a successful conclusion, she selects some man of spirit and ability who knows how to seize the opportunity she offers.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ability_when-fortune-wishes-to-bring-mighty-even_3190111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ability_when-fortune-wishes-to-bring-mighty-even_3190111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/niccolo-machiavelli-368_ability_when-fortune-wishes-to-bring-mighty-even_3190111.jpg) > “When fortune wishes to bring mighty events to a successful conclusion, she selects some man of spirit and ability who knows how to seize the opportunity she offers.” [Niccolo 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 favors those who recognize and seize opportunities with spirit and skill. **In simple terms:** Opportunity rewards the prepared and bold. Key Takeaway Be ready to act when chance appears. Themes opportunity skill spirit leadership Mood strategic encouraging Type political motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - crisis management Key Concepts political strategy chance initiative Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities are you overlooking? - How do you prepare for sudden chances? A Different Perspective Opportunity may be fleeting or illusory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-knows-2371239/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Wishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-wishes-706972/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Seize Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seize-opportunity/) [Seize the opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seize-the-opportunity/) [Selects Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selects-man-5881651/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [He is a pandit (man of knowledge) who speaks what is suitable to the occasion, who renders loving service according to his ability, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/he-is-a-pandit-man-of-knowledge-who-speaks-what-is-suitable-to-the/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [“If you were offered the chance to live your own life again, would you seize the opportunity? The only real philosophical answer is automatically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-you-were-offered-the-chance-to-live-your-own-life-again-would-you/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Seize every opportunity along the way, for how sad it would be if the road you chose became the road not taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/seize-every-opportunity-along-the-way-for-how-sad-it-would-be-if-the/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [You've got to seize the opportunity if it is presented to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-ve-got-to-seize-the-opportunity-if-it-is-presented-to-you/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [If you don't seize the opportunity, someone else will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-seize-the-opportunity-someone-else-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes the course of our lives depends on what we do or don't do in a few seconds, a heartbeat, when we either seize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-chambers/sometimes-the-course-of-our-lives-depends-on-what-we-do-or-don-t-do/) [Aidan Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-chambers/) > [“Your purpose on earth is to participate in this human experience and to seize the opportunity within each day to reveal the greatest version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/your-purpose-on-earth-is-to-participate-in-this-human-experience-and/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [The world can therefore seize the opportunity (the Persian Gulf crisis) to fulfill the long held promise of a New World Order where diverse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-world-can-therefore-seize-the-opportunity-the-persian-gulf-crisis/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Yet in all those cases I finally steeled myself to seize the opportunity, and find a way to muddle through and eventually conclude that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-in-all-those-cases-i-finally-steeled-myself-to-seize-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Forget seizing the moment. Seize the opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/forget-seizing-the-moment-seize-the-opportunity/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [“If you don't seize the opportunity, how do you know what will happen? Sometimes you have to take the chance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/if-you-don-t-seize-the-opportunity-how-do-you-know-what-will-happen/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [All of the Divas are given opportunities. It's kind of the way you go after them and what you do with them. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/all-of-the-divas-are-given-opportunities-it-s-kind-of-the-way-you-go/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [Sure, you can choose the safety and predictability of the cage, forfeiting the adventure God has destined for you. But you won't be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/sure-you-can-choose-the-safety-and-predictability-of-the-cage/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [National governments alone cannot deliver lasting prosperity without a transformation of social and economic development that seeks to minimise risk and seize the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-espinosa/national-governments-alone-cannot-deliver-lasting-prosperity-without/) [Patricia Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-espinosa/) > [Every day you have the opportunity to learn and experience some-thing and some-one new. Seize the opportunity. Learn and experience everything you can, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-williams-jr/every-day-you-have-the-opportunity-to-learn-and-experience-some-thing/) [Rodney Williams Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-williams-jr/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; 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; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [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/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. 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