Change is the great constant of the universe. What goes up must come down -- or go into orbit. Just as the ripest, sweetest fruit hangs by a mere thread, so periods of prosperity often fall of their own weight. Death and decay are always with us; they can be held at bay temporarily, but never banished altogether. Let this knowledge dwell like an eternal flame inside you, friend; only by being realistic about the world can we escape the illusion that good fortune lasts forever, and prepare properly for our fate.
