The fortunate is seldom satisfied with the fact of being fortunate. Beyond this, he needs to know that he has a right to his good fortune. He wants to be convinced that he 'deserves' it, and above all, that he deserves it in comparison with others. He wishes to be allowed the belief that the less fortunate also merely experience his due. Good fortune thus wants to be 'legitimate' fortune. - Max Weber (The Social Psychology of the World Religions Quotes)

The fortunate is seldom satisfied with the fact of being fortunate. Beyond this, he needs to know that he has a right to his good fortune. He wants to be convinced that he ‘deserves’ it, and above all, that he deserves it in comparison with others. He wishes to be allowed the belief that the less fortunate also merely experience his due. Good fortune thus wants to be ‘legitimate’ fortune.[Der Glückliche begnügt sich selten mit der Tatsache des Besitzes seines Glückes. Er hat darüber hinaus das Bedürfnis: auch noch ein Recht daraufzuhaben. Er will überzeugt sein, daß er es auch »verdiene«; vorallem: im Vergleich mit andern verdiene. Und er will also auch glauben dürfen: daß dem minder Glücklichen durch den Nichtbesitz des gleichen Glückes ebenfalls nur geschehe, was ihm zukommt. Das Glück will »legitim« sein.]

Source:From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology (Oxford University Press, ed. 1946), Part III. Religion, Chapter XI. The Social Psychology of the World Religions, Page 271
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