The harder I work, the luckier I get.
Samuel Goldwyn, the great motion picture pioneer, once declared with unshakable conviction: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” In this simple yet thunderous truth, he shatters the illusion that fortune falls by chance alone. What men call luck is not the gift of idle fate, but the fruit of ceaseless work, of effort that prepares the heart and mind to seize opportunity when it appears.
The ancients spoke of this long before. The farmer who tills diligently is the one who reaps, even if storms threaten his crop. The warrior who trains unceasingly is the one ready when the enemy strikes. To the lazy man, fortune never arrives, but to the diligent, even chance bends its knee. Goldwyn’s words echo this eternal law: that luck belongs not to the dreamer who waits, but to the worker who acts.
History bears witness to this truth in the life of Thomas Edison. Known for his inventions, he failed thousands of times before perfecting the light bulb. To many, his success seemed like a stroke of luck — yet it was work, endless and unyielding, that forged that moment of triumph. He himself once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Edison and Goldwyn both unveil the same lesson: luck is earned by toil.
Goldwyn’s own journey was a living parable of his saying. Born in poverty in Poland, he immigrated to America with nothing but determination. Through relentless work, he rose to become one of the founding figures of Hollywood, shaping the film industry itself. His “luck” was nothing mystical; it was born of long hours, hard choices, and tireless pursuit of vision. His success was the proof of his creed.
Let the generations remember: do not wait for luck to descend from the heavens. Fortune smiles upon those whose hands are calloused from labor, whose hearts endure the grind, whose spirits do not surrender. As Goldwyn teaches, the harder you work, the more doors open before you, and the more the world calls it “luck.” But in truth, it is destiny shaped by your own will, forged by your own labor, and sealed by your own perseverance.
QClam quy cao
Samuel Goldwyn’s quote is a great reminder that success doesn’t just happen by chance. It takes consistent effort, and that effort makes us more prepared when opportunities arise. It makes me think about how important persistence is in the pursuit of success. Do you think that people who seem lucky are often just those who put in the hard work to make their luck happen?
Yy
This quote is a great reminder that luck isn’t something passive we just wait for—it’s something we can actively influence through effort. It’s easy to feel like others are just ‘lucky,’ but often, it’s the result of consistent work behind the scenes. Have you ever had a moment where your hard work led to what seemed like a lucky break?
TSTran Sam
I find this quote motivating because it flips the typical idea of luck on its head. It’s often said that ‘luck’ happens when preparation meets opportunity, and this quote reinforces that idea. The harder we work, the more we create chances for ourselves. What’s your take on this—do you think hard work truly creates luck, or is it all about timing?
TOThao offline
This quote by Samuel Goldwyn really makes me think about the relationship between hard work and perceived luck. It suggests that luck isn’t just about chance—it’s about putting in the effort that increases the odds of success. Have you ever noticed that the more effort you put into something, the more opportunities seem to open up? Do you believe hard work directly leads to ‘luck’?