It’s a classic, punchy quote that perfectly captures the "Protestant work ethic"—but here’s a bit of a plot twist for you: **Thomas Jefferson probably never actually said it.**
While it’s been attributed to him for decades, most historians and the researchers at Monticello believe it likely originated with **F. Coleman**, a writer in the early 20th century, or was a variation of a saying popularized by **Samuel Goldwyn**.
Regardless of the source, the sentiment is gold. It reframes "luck" not as a random lightning strike, but as a byproduct of preparation and persistence.
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### Why the quote sticks
The reason this quote resonates so well—and why we want to believe Jefferson said it—is because it balances two opposing ideas:
* **Humility:** Acknowledging that success often requires being in the right place at the right time.
* **Agency:** Realizing that working hard increases the surface area for "luck" to hit you.
If you’re interested in the math behind the sentiment, it's often described as the **Luck Surface Area**. The formula looks something like this:
Where is luck, is doing (work), and is telling others about it (exposure).
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Would you like me to find some other "Jeffersonian" quotes that are actually verified, or perhaps more quotes about the intersection of hard work and opportunity?#BitcoinETFWatch $BNB
