Every dog has its day

Definition

Everyone will have their moment of success, good fortune, or recognition eventually. Even those who seem unlucky or overlooked will experience triumph at some point.

Etymology

This proverb dates back to ancient Greece and was recorded by Erasmus in the 16th century. It reflects the cyclical nature of fortune and the belief that circumstances change for everyone over time, using dogs as symbols of the common or downtrodden.

Kelly Says

What's wonderful about this phrase is its democratic optimism - it doesn't promise greatness to the worthy, but simply asserts that time and chance touch everyone. It's both consoling to the struggling and humbling to the successful.

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