It’s true that external circumstances—like luck, opportunity, or even someone else’s downfall—can greatly influence success however, the mould of a man’s fortune is in his own hands. Often, one person’s mistake is another’s opportunity. Think of it like this: no one rises faster than by capitalising on others’ errors. The old saying captures it well: “A snake becomes a dragon only by eating another snake.”
Obvious talents and virtues bring admiration, but hidden qualities often lead to success. These subtle traits don’t even have names; they just come naturally in how someone handles themselves. The Spanish term “disemboltura” comes close—it means a certain smoothness or ease. When someone isn’t stuck or hesitant, when their mind moves as smoothly as the opportunities around them, that’s when they’re most likely to succeed. Livy’s description of Cato Major captures this: “In that man, there was so much strength of body and mind that, wherever he had been born, he seemed destined to make his own fortune.” Cato also had a “versatile ingenium”—a flexible and adaptable nature.
If you look carefully, you’ll notice that Fortune isn’t as blind as people think—she’s just hard to spot. Success isn’t built on one big moment but on many small, almost invisible habits and traits working together. It’s like the Milky Way in the night sky: an array of faint stars, not individually bright but together creating light. The Italians say that truly fortunate people often have unexpected traits. They might have “Poco di matto”—a small touch of foolishness—or avoid being overly moralistic.
Extreme loyalty, whether to a country or a boss, rarely leads to success. Why? Because if your focus is always on others, you lose sight of your own path. Quick fortunes often go to risk-takers, or as the French say, “entreprenant” (enterprising) and “remuant” (restless). But lasting fortune shapes capable, well-rounded individuals.
Success brings two valuable gifts: confidence within yourself and a strong reputation among others. Wise people, though, avoid envy by attributing their achievements to Providence or Fortune rather than their own skill. This humility not only makes them more likable but also aligns them with the idea of being under higher protection. Julius Caesar famously told his pilot during a storm, “You carry Caesar and his fortune.” Sylla, too, chose the title “Felix” (fortunate) over “Magnus” (great). Those who boast too much about their wisdom often meet unfortunate ends. Timotheus of Athens, for example, fell into bad luck after repeatedly claiming, “Fortune had no part in my success.”
Some people seem to glide through life, their achievements coming with ease, like the smooth flow of Homer’s verses. Plutarch noted that Timoleon’s fortune had a natural ease compared to others like Agesilaus or Epaminondas. But why does this happen? Ultimately, it’s because much of success depends on what lies within us.
Bacon Blueprint 