Simple Truths: Good Luck

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Copyright © 2014 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover and internal design © 2014 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover design by Rob Melhuish Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—­except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—­without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2013 by Summersdale Publishers Ltd. Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-­4410 (630) 961-­3900 Fax: (630) 961-­2168 www.sourcebooks.com Printed and bound in China. LEO 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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To. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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I’m a great believer

in luck, and I find the

harder I work, the more I have of it.

Coleman Cox

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sure thing

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The only

about luck is

that it will

change.

Bret Harte

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We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like? Jean Cocteau

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Although often thought of as bad luck due to their place in Halloween decorations and stories of witches, traditionally, a black cat crossing your path is a sign of good luck.

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In witch folklore, the black cat is their familiar animal, a pet that will help their spells and concentrate their magic powers, therefore bringing them luck.

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It’s hard to detect

good

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luck —it looks so much like something you’ve earned. Frank A. Clark

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…think lucky. If you fall into a mudhole, check your back pocket—you might have caught a fish. Darrell Royal

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Depend on

the rabbit’s foot if you will, but remember it didn’t work for the rabbit. R. E. Shay

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A rabbit’s foot can be carried as a lucky charm, a superstition which is spread across the world and may date back to 600 BC when it was used as a protective amulet by the Celts.

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Today, all manner of people, but particularly gamblers, carry rabbits’ feet with them to bring them luck— not so lucky for the rabbit!

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Those who have succeeded at anything and don’t mention luck are kidding themselves. Larry King

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Everything in

life is luck.

Donald Trump

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Luck seeks those who flee and flees

those who seek it.

German proverb

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Some people are so fond of ill-luck that they run halfway to meet it. Douglas William Jerrold

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Horseshoes, often seen at weddings or hung above doors, are considered lucky when turned upward, but unlucky when turned downward. When turned upward, the horseshoe is said to be gathering luck, whereas downward, your luck will pour out.

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Myths surrounding the horseshoe include that as it is made out of iron, it will ward off evil and the supernatural, and that as it is shaped like the moon, therefore linked to the blessings of the moon goddess, it will bring prosperity.

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Luck marches with those who give their

very best. H. Jackson Brown Jr.

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Some folk want their luck buttered. Thomas Hardy

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Destiny is a good thing to accept when it’s going your way. When it isn’t… call it…simple bad luck. Joseph Heller

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People always

call it luck when you’ve acted more

sensibly than they have.

Anne Tyler

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Jade has been a treasured stone for many centuries, both for its beauty and for its lucky qualities, and is still viewed as a bringer of luck in modern China.

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Jade may be fashioned into ornaments or jewelry, or be used as part of good luck charms which can be carried around, or used in the home. Jade is believed to bring longevity to those who use it.

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