You've got to think lucky. If you fall into a mudhole, check your

In the wise and light-hearted words of Darrell Royal, “You’ve got to think lucky. If you fall into a mudhole, check your back pocket—you might have caught a fish,” we find a philosophy both simple and profound: that attitude determines destiny. Royal, the legendary football coach of the Texas Longhorns, was not merely speaking of luck, but of the spirit with which one faces life’s trials. His words remind us that fortune often hides in misfortune, and that those who keep their eyes open, even in adversity, may find treasures where others see only ruin. To “think lucky” is to train the mind to search for light even in the darkest hour—to see, within every setback, the possibility of something gained.

The origin of this quote lies in Royal’s approach to life and leadership. Known for his humility, wit, and wisdom, he coached not only with strategy but with perspective. His saying reflects a truth as old as time—that fate often favors the resilient and the hopeful. Royal had seen his players stumble, fail, and rise again, and he understood that success is not born from perfect circumstances but from the courage to look for meaning in the mud. When he spoke of “checking your back pocket for a fish,” he was teaching more than optimism—he was teaching the art of turning trial into triumph, of transforming misfortune into opportunity.

The ancients knew this truth well. The Stoic philosophers, like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, taught that we cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. To “think lucky” is not to deny the mudhole—it is to rise from it with purpose. For even in failure, life offers lessons that can nourish the soul. The man who falls learns humility; the man who loses learns endurance. And sometimes, in the very act of falling, one discovers something unexpected—a hidden strength, a new direction, a fish in the pocket of fate. Thus, Royal’s homespun wisdom echoes the ageless philosophy of the sages: that luck belongs not to those who wait, but to those who see beyond despair.

Consider the story of Thomas Edison, who, after thousands of failed experiments in search of a working filament for the electric bulb, was asked if his repeated failures discouraged him. He replied, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Where others saw a mudhole, Edison saw a classroom. His “fish” was knowledge—each failure taught him something new. In the end, his persistence illuminated the world. Like Royal’s saying, Edison’s life teaches that luck is not chance, but perspective—the ability to find grace and purpose in every circumstance, even in defeat.

To “think lucky” is not to rely on superstition or chance, but to choose gratitude over despair. It is a discipline of the heart. The pessimist falls into the mudhole and curses the world; the optimist falls into the same pit and laughs, saying, “Well, at least I’m already dirty—I might as well look for something worth finding.” This mindset transforms hardship into possibility. Those who think lucky draw strength from their faith, from humor, from memory, and from the knowledge that storms, no matter how fierce, always pass. They know that sometimes, the very thing that seemed a disaster becomes the turning point of greatness.

There is a heroism in such thinking, for it requires courage to see beyond the surface of loss. The soldier who stumbles may find in the mud a renewed will to live; the artist who faces rejection may discover a deeper truth in their work; the leader who suffers failure may learn humility, and thus wisdom. Royal’s words are not only for athletes or dreamers—they are for all who walk through the fields of life, where mudholes are inevitable. His teaching is a shield against despair: when you fall, look again, for there may be more in your failure than you know.

Let this truth, then, be handed down to future generations: fortune belongs to those who refuse to surrender to bitterness. When life casts you down, do not curse the fall—examine it. There may be a gift hidden within the mire. Train your mind to see opportunity where others see obstacle, and your heart will never be empty. Remember that to “think lucky” is to walk through life with faith, humor, and resilience—the unbreakable trinity of the human spirit.

Thus, in the spirited wisdom of Darrell Royal, we hear an echo of ancient truth dressed in the language of the field: life will dirty you, challenge you, humble you—but if you rise laughing, if you search your pocket, you may find that the mud was not a curse but a blessing in disguise. For those who think lucky, every fall becomes a step forward, every loss a lesson, and every misfortune, somehow, a catch of grace.