IT CANNOT be denied, but outward accidents conduce much to fortune; favor, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue. But chiefly, the mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands.
 Francis Bacon, The Essays of Francis Bacon (1597). copy citation

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Author Francis Bacon
Source The Essays of Francis Bacon
Topic death virtue
Date 1597
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/575/575-h/575-h.htm

Context

“For commonwealths, and good governments, do nourish virtue grown but do not much mend the deeds. But the misery is, that the most effectual means, are now applied to the ends, least to be desired.
Of Fortune
IT CANNOT be denied, but outward accidents conduce much to fortune; favor, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue. But chiefly, the mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands. Faber quisque fortunae suae, saith the poet. And the most frequent of external causes is, that the folly of one man, is the fortune of another. For no man prospers so suddenly, as by others' errors. Serpens nisi serpentem comederit non fit draco.” source