Donald Ray Pollock Quotes

I've worked really hard, but I know people who have worked even harder but didn't have the chances I've had.

Some people can work their butts off and never get what they're aiming for while others can get it without any effort at all.

I'm not saying people shouldn't apply themselves and work hard. You do have to try to make your own luck. But I know people firsthand who worked incredibly hard, who were really smart, who never got into trouble, and still didn't get a break.

We have this myth that if you work hard, you can accomplish anything. It's not a very American thing to say, but I don't think that's true. It's true for a lot of people, but you need other things to succeed. You need luck, you need opportunity, and you need the life skills to recognize what an opportunity is.

I am a young, white, educated male. I got really, really lucky. And life isn't fair.

You cannot underestimate the value of luck in success in life. And I've really learned to appreciate that.

Whatever we do, whatever our backgrounds, we've all had some kind of advantage somewhere along the way. Some break that might have gone to someone else. Some edge or inside track we couldn't have counted on.

I don't want to take names, but there are some people who get everything served on a platter. This is a movie, this is your role, and you have to do it. Some people have to strive so hard to reach where they have and want to.

Obviously, you have to have some luck on your side to be successful.

The successful are those who have been given opportunities.

I don't think the world works on merit.

A meritocracy is a system in which the people who are the luckiest in their health and genetic endowment; luckiest in terms of family support, encouragement and, probably, income; luckiest in their educational and career opportunities; and luckiest in so many other ways difficult to enumerate - these are the folks who reap the largest rewards.

I'm not a believer of luck. I think opportunity and hard work becomes luck.

Everyone is born equally capable but lacks equal opportunity.

I was thinking about how fleeting and precious life is. Life is also arbitrary. For example, the choices that you make, the luck of being born into the right bed, to parents who support and help you and who love you. That doesn't always happen - and then, what happens when it doesn't?

Everybody has to be a little lucky, I think.

America thinks of itself as a meritocracy, so people have more respect for success and more contempt for failure.

What's meant to be will always find a way.

Few people realize that luck is created.

Life is unfair. I got nothing but the best.

I'm a big believer in luck - the harder you work, the luckier you become.

You are incredibly fortunate whatever success falls on you, which is what happened with me.

Equal opportunity means everyone will have a fair chance at being incompetent.

I haven't had to struggle very much. I haven't paid my dues. I think I have been lucky.

Good luck is a residue of preparation.