An Interesting Quote by Orison Swett Marden

August 26, 2007

An article by Dave at Go Back Packing sparked some interesting thoughts. The article was based around the following quote:

The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone. — Orison Swett Marden

Interesting quote, although I think there is always an aspect of circumstance. An example would be a great highly skilled businessman who in the great depression would likely be a failure while a poor businessmen in a economic boom could be a great success.

So if you can recognize the influence which you personally hold and that of fortune or circumstance, then you realize that your achievements are not purely your own, but are both are also highly dependent on factors beyond your control.