So here’s the thing about luck: we all secretly want to believe it’s real. Like, really real. That one mystical force that decides whether you find a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk or spill coffee on your shirt right before a job interview.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” And honestly, it’s one of those quotes that makes you pause mid-sip and go, “Wait, ouch—was that directed at me?”
Because if we’re being honest, most of us flirt with the idea of luck all the time. I know I do. I’ve blamed bad luck for a book not selling well, or for missing a train by twelve seconds, or for my sourdough starter mysteriously dying overnight. But Emerson’s quote is basically the 19th-century version of, “Stop blaming Mercury retrograde and look at your choices.”
What Emerson Actually Meant
When he says “shallow men,” I don’t think he’s talking about people who wear too much cologne and use “bro” unironically. He means people who look at outcomes and assume they’re random—like life is one big slot machine.
The “strong” ones, on the other hand, are the ones who understand that results come from action, consistency, and a whole lot of unglamorous effort. Cause and effect. You do X, you get Y. Or, if you’re like me, you do X and get a weird version of Y that needs editing.
Luck vs. Effort
Say someone lands their dream job and we all go, “Wow, they’re so lucky.” But behind the curtain, that same person spent years networking, building a portfolio, sending follow-up emails, and probably crying over rejection letters in their kitchen. That’s not luck—that’s persistence, caffeine, and maybe some good timing, but timing only matters if you’re already ready.
Or take athletes. People say, “He’s lucky to be that talented.” No, he’s been running drills since fifth grade while the rest of us were eating Pop-Tarts and pretending gym class was optional. That’s cause and effect in motion.
Writers, musicians, entrepreneurs—it’s the same deal. There’s a mountain of invisible effort behind every “overnight success.” What we call luck is usually just someone else’s long-term effort finally showing up publicly. Luck is the shiny packaging; cause and effect is the machinery inside.
That Time Someone Complimented My Camera
A while back, someone looked at one of my photos and said, “Wow, your camera takes great pictures.” And I know they meant it as a compliment, but I was… kind of insulted.
Because it wasn’t the camera that got up at 5 a.m. to catch that sunrise. It wasn’t the camera that spent years learning composition, lighting, and how to make the most of a bad angle. The camera’s a tool—it does what it’s told. The person behind it is the one doing the seeing.
That comment stuck with me, though. It’s the same way people talk about luck. They see the final result—whether it’s a beautiful photo, a finished book, or a thriving business—and they credit some external thing: “You’re lucky,” “You have a great camera,” “You’re naturally talented.” But all of those phrases skip over the hours of effort that made the end result look easy.
But What About Chance?
I don’t think Emerson meant we have to become stoic robots who deny the element of chance. Life does throw curveballs. Sometimes you just happen to meet the right person at the right time, or stumble into a weird opportunity because you took the wrong exit.
But even then—here’s the fun part—cause and effect still plays a role. You were open enough, curious enough, brave enough to be there in the first place. That’s not luck. That’s positioning.
A Personal Example
Years ago, I met someone at a café because I accidentally sat at their table (introvert nightmare). We got to chatting, and that conversation led to a freelance project, which led to another, which helped me pay my bills during a really dry spell.
People later said, “What a lucky break!” But if I hadn’t taken my laptop to that café, or said “sorry” instead of scuttling away, it never would’ve happened. See? Cause. And effect.
Why We Love the Idea of Luck
We all like to believe in luck because it takes the pressure off. If things don’t work out, we can shrug and say, “Wasn’t my lucky day.” But believing in cause and effect means we have to take responsibility.
It means if something doesn’t work, maybe it’s because our approach needs adjusting—not because the universe is ignoring us. That can sting, but it’s also empowering. It puts us in the driver’s seat.
Playing the Long Game
Cause and effect doesn’t always pay off immediately. You might do everything right and still not see results for months, maybe years. But that’s not proof that luck is in charge—it’s just proof that the world operates on its own weird timeline.
It’s like planting seeds. You can water them, give them sunlight, and whisper encouraging things, but you can’t force them to sprout on your schedule.
Taking Emerson’s Advice to Heart
When I read Emerson’s quote, I think of it less as a diss to “shallow” people and more as a gentle nudge to stop waiting for someone else to flip the switch. You make your own cause. You create your own effect.
And the more you stack those deliberate actions, the more “luck” you seem to have. It’s sneaky that way.
Final Thoughts
So maybe luck isn’t a real force after all. Maybe it’s just the visible echo of preparation colliding with opportunity. That’s a little less magical—but a lot more doable.
Anyway, here’s to being “strong” in the Emersonian sense: showing up, trying again, and pretending luck has nothing to do with it… even when you secretly cross your fingers under the table.
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