"A wise man turns chance into good fortune"

A wise person recognizes every encounter with chance—unexpected events, apparent accidents, or random opportunities—not as mere happenings, but as seeds from which good fortune can be cultivated. Such individuals possess the insight to see possibilities where others perceive only unpredictability or risk. Rather than letting fate dictate outcomes, the wise proactively shape their circumstances, harnessing the winds of chance to propel themselves forward.

Good fortune, then, isn’t just the result of luck falling serendipitously upon someone, but often the harvest of discernment, preparation, and courageous action. Where others might dismiss an unplanned event as trivial or worry about its potential negatives, the wise view it through a lens of potential. They ask, “How can I use this to grow, to build, to advance myself or others?” Their fortunes are not simply granted by fate, but are crafted by their responses to unpredictable turns.

Central to this process is adaptability. The wise cultivate a readiness to change course, adjust plans, or seize upon new paths as they unfold. They maintain optimism and confidence that, even when things do not go according to design, valuable outcomes can emerge. Every misstep, every twist of circumstance, becomes a source of learning, a foundation on which to build future successes. In contrast, those who are rigid or fearful in the face of chance may miss these openings altogether, remaining stuck while opportunity slips by.

The transformative power of wisdom lies in making the most of what chance provides. It’s about working resourcefully with whatever materials happen to be at hand and trusting one’s judgment to see value where others do not. Ultimately, fortune smiles not by random choice, but on those who habitually turn the uncertain into the advantageous and transform mere possibility into tangible benefit.