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It is more easy to get a favour from fortune than to keep it.

— Publilius Syrus

Painterly carved wooden hand holding a gold coin against an amber background.
Original artwork
Behind the line May contain spoilers.

Our reading

An editorial interpretation.

A lucky break and a lasting advantage are different things here. Fortune may grant something without guaranteeing that it stays. The saying draws attention to how quickly good circumstances can change, making possession less secure than the excitement of first receiving it.

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