Because the gifts of fortune, if unknown
To those who have them, cannot be called gifts.
Da quei che li posseggono, beni chiamar non possono.
Original text (Italian)
Original text (Italian)
The proverb says
That men turn ever to the rising sun,
Because the setting sun is lost too soon.
A penny only to the poor is given,
But to the richest wealth doth year by year increase.
Oft, in discussions, better 'tis to yield,
Than to use arguments which may do harm.
In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind.
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.
O Fortune, cruellest of heavenly powers,
Why make such game of this poor life of ours?
Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Luigi Alamanni (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.