An unlucky rich man is more capable of satisfying his desires and of riding out disaster when it strikes, but a lucky man is better off than him…He is the one who deserves to be described as happy. But until he is dead, you had better refrain from calling him happy, and just call him fortunate.

— Solon Attributed

More quotes by Solon

But I grow old ever learning many things.

On every side the immortal mind from men is hidden.

If through your vices you afflicted are,
Lay not the blame of your distress on God;
You made your rulers mighty, gave them guards,
So now you groan 'neath slavery's heavy rod.

Thus do the evils of the state come home to every citizen.

But wealth God-given doth become to man
A column firm, from base to capital.

All Solon quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Solon (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.

An unlucky rich man is more capable of satisfying his desires and of riding out disaster when it strikes, but a lucky man is better off than him…He is the one who deserves to be described as happy. But until he is dead, you had better refrain from calling him happy, and just call him fortunate.

Share this quote

More quotes by Solon

Attribution