Serendipity is another word in the luck family. Invented by Horace Walpole in 1754, it appropriately began life as a misprint. Walpole wrote a letter to Horace Mann developing the idea of serendipity from a 'silly fairytale' about chance called The Three Princes of Serendip. But Walpole had made a mistake: the real title of the story was The Three Princes of Sarendip {the ancient name for Sri Lanka}. Before its current fashionable
📖 Ed Smith
Serendipity, a term related to luck, was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754. Its origin is intriguing, as it stems from a typographical error. Walpole was discussing the concept in a letter to Horace Mann, drawing inspiration from a tale he referred to as The Three Princes of Serendip. However, the actual title of the story is The Three Princes of Sarendip, which refers to the ancient name for Sri Lanka.
This concept of serendipity has gained renewed interest, particularly highlighted in Ed Smith's recent book, Luck: What It Means and Why It Matters. Smith explores the significance of luck and chance in our lives, much like Walpole's original reflections on the whimsical nature of fortune.
