"Fortune favours the prepared mind." Proverb Meaning, Origin & History | Poignant Proverbs
Channel: Poignant Proverbs
Date: 27/10/2022

0:00 - How to say “Fortune favours the prepared mind.”
0:06 - Meaning of the proverb, “Fortune favours the prepared mind.”
0:35 - Discussion of the proverb, “Fortune favours the prepared mind.”
1:08 - Real life example of the proverb, “Fortune favours the prepared mind.”
1:49 - Advice regarding the proverb, “Fortune favours the prepared mind.”
2:15 - Origin of the proverb, “Fortune favours the prepared mind.”
2:57 - Conclusion

Transcript:

“Fortune favours the prepared mind.”

This proverb means that fortune, luck or opportunity is most often realized by those whom are prepared, ready, learned or experienced.

In other words, when you have the background in something because you’ve been learning it, preparing for it or exploring the field, you’ll be able to take advantage of any related opportunity, chance or fortuity that happens to come your way.

People are often looking for opportunity or luck, but in actuality, they’re simply waiting around for it, doing nothing to get closer to their goals or dreams. Or perhaps they want to start preparations, but constantly put it off until tomorrow.

These same people expect to be able to seize an opportunity when it comes, but the reality is that without preparation, they won’t be able to take advantage of a good chance even when it does come!

Do you find yourself going to work every day at a job that you like, but isn’t challenging enough - a job that is good, but not challenging or rewarding enough? What are you doing to get yourself to the next level in the organization? Are you taking night and weekend courses? Are you learning a new skill via an online course?

If a better position in your company became available; would you be able to do it, would you qualify for it, would they choose you over someone else? Do you already have the skills to be able to apply for and be accepted to that position?

Thus, the proverb, “Fortune favours the prepared mind,” tells us that we should prepare ourselves in order to be able to seize opportunity when it does arise. We must get ready, otherwise we won’t be ready when the time comes.

Similarly, there is an old proverb in Taiwan that says, “Opportunity awaits the prepared.”

This proverb and similar proverbs have been uttered by many well-known people throughout history, but perhaps the most famous and earliest to have said these words is Louis Pasteur, the French microbiologist and chemist that invented Pasteurization, whom gave this advice during a lecture at the University of Lille in 1854.

Of course, you may not be able to predict what kind of opportunities or luck will come your way in the future, so how do you prepare? Well, you prepare by gaining knowledge and training yourself in things that you are interested in!

So, if you want to be able to take advantage of opportunities and luck that come your way in the future, start preparing for what you want today. Remember that “fortune favours the prepared mind.”

#poignantproverbs #proverbs #wisdom

References: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Louis_Pasteur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yu3UYlI2Y4