
ProverbWisdom
English origin
He dances well to whom fortune pipes.
Meaning: Success comes easily to those blessed with favorable circumstances rather than personal effort.
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.
Equivalents in Italian
Italian: Assai ben balla a chi fortuna suona (literally: He dances well enough for whom fortune plays)
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- 石頭 (Ishiatama) A stubborn, inflexible person who won't budge.
- Tu as du chien You have a certain irresistible magnetism — a je-ne-sais-quoi that draws people in.
- Tu as la tête sur les épaules You're grounded, sensible, and dependable — not easily swept off course.
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