Change of fortune is the lot of life.
Meaning: Life's circumstances shift unpredictably, so neither prosperity nor hardship remains permanent or defines your ultimate fate.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Better a fortune in her than on her. — A woman's character and intelligence matter more than her physical appearance or material…
- Foul hands befoul all they touch. — Moral corruption spreads through contact, tainting everything and everyone a person influ…
- Four farthings and a thimble make a tailor's pocket jingle. — A tailor's meager earnings remind us that even small accumulations of modest wealth deser…
- The fox knows much, but more he that catcheth him. — The cunning schemer is ultimately undone by someone possessing even greater intelligence…
- A fox should not be of the jury at a goose trial. — Predators cannot impartially judge those they naturally prey upon; self-interest corrupts…
- When the fox preaches, beware of your geese. — Predators exploiting trust through false virtue pose the greatest danger to the vulnerabl…
From our tongue twisters
- Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. — A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.
- Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach. — Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.
- Der Cottbuser Postkutscher putzt den Cottbuser Postkutschkasten. — A jaw-breaking compound-noun 'ts/tsch/sch' marathon — the German love of compound words w…