Luck or Success?

Luck

Definition of Suerte (Luck) according to the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy), featuring 19 item entries; 11 common phrases, from which I will select only the ones relevant to this context.

suerte.
(From Lat. sors, sortis).

1.    f. A chain of events, considered to be fortuitous or accidental. Fortune willed it so.
2.    f. The circumstance of being, by mere chance, favorable or adverse to someone or something that happens or occurs. Juan has bad luck. A book of good fortune.
3.    f. Favorable luck. May God give you luck. Juan is a lucky man.
4.    f. Chance to which the resolution of something is entrusted. To choose a leader by drawing lots. Let luck decide it.
5.    f. That which happens or may happen for better or worse regarding people or things. I know not what my fate will be. To entrust the fate of the State to incompetent men.
6.    f. State, condition. To improve the lot of the people. A man of humble origin.
7.    f. Manner or way of doing something.
8.    f. As opposed to chance in dice and other games, points with which one wins or scores.
9.    f. obs. In commerce, capital, estate, wealth.

caerle a alguien en ~ algo.

1.    phr. To fall to someone by lottery/draw.
2.    phr. To happen to someone by providential design.

caerle a alguien la ~.

1.    phr. To have luck fall upon oneself / to win a prize or draw.

correr bien la ~ a alguien.

1.    phr. To be fortunate/happy.

correr mal la ~ a alguien.

1.    phr. To be unfortunate/unhappy.

tocarle a alguien en ~ algo.

1.    phr. To win or draw something in a lottery or raffle.

Definition of Éxito (Success) according to the RAE

Éxito.
(From Lat. exĭtus, departure/outcome).

1.    m. Happy outcome of a business, performance, etc.
2.    m. Good acceptance that someone or something enjoys.
3.    m. seldom used. End or conclusion of a business or matter.

Now then, many times we say as an expression of good wishes “good luck” (buena suerte) or “best of luck” (mucha suerte) to someone, wishing good upon that person.

When this wish is offered, in the majority of cases, it happens before whatever is going to happen takes place, or before the result is known.

Up to this point, following the definitions provided by the RAE, there is nothing wrong with it; it is correct that one be aided by providence, spared from harm or detriment, or favored by chance.

It turns out that lately, one often hears a phrase being repeated: "Éxitos, la suerte es para los mediocres" (“Success, luck is for mediocres”). Without getting into the word mediocre, which is clearly derogatory, I would dare say that those who repeat this currently fashionable saying have no idea what they are talking about. They repeat it for the sake of repeating, simply because they heard it from someone else, without ever stopping to analyze what they are saying. (This is my opinion; I wrote this around the year 2006, but it remains popular in 2014, although heard a bit less, at least in the media).

If we go back to the RAE, we find that the word éxito (success) speaks of an already obtained outcome. The goal has already been achieved; therefore, if we say it before it occurs, we would be misusing the word, applying it incorrectly. The phrase makes no sense; it is “wishing for something” when in reality that something should have already happened. Success is more like a congratulation than a wish for something to occur. If one does not wish to use the word suerte, what should be done is to find another word that aligns with the sentence and the event one wishes to express.

And what happens if we wish someone “success” (éxito) and we never get the desired result, or the result is unfavorable? In the latter case, when wishing “luck” (suerte), even if it isn't the primary goal, we would always remain within its definitions when the outcome isn't what was expected or goes wrong—it is a possibility included within the phrase; at most, it simply becomes “bad luck.”

In any case, one could use buenaventura or buena ventura, which according to the RAE means:

buenaventura.

(From buena and ventura).

1.    f. Good luck, fortune/happiness of someone.
2.    f. Superstitious fortune-telling of people's fate, done by gypsies through palmistry and facial features.

Let us now look at four entries for the word fortuna (fortune) provided again by the RAE:

fortuna.

(From Lat. Fortūna).

1.    f. A chain of events, considered fortuitous.
2.    f. Casual circumstance of people and things.
3.    f. Favorable luck.
4.    f. Success (|| good acceptance).

probar ~.

1.    phr. To attempt an undertaking whose successful completion is considered difficult or doubtful.

The word fortuna once again brings us closer to the word suerte (luck) rather than to éxito (success), which clearly points to something already accepted, an outcome we already have.
All of this is for the sake of banishing the misused phrase "Éxito, la suerte es para los mediocres," so that people do not end up becoming mediocre themselves by speaking in such a manner.

In Argentina, many things are often invented—some for good, others for bad—and trends are set that quickly adapt to the general public. Especially when someone with access to the media spreads them, the general public adopts them without rhyme or reason. I do not know if it is used elsewhere around the globe, but currently—I say currently because when I was younger I don't recall hearing it from anyone (perhaps I am mistaken)—overnight, it became as common as any other phrase. As an expression of well-wishing, it is now common to say "mucha mierda" (“lots of shit”), which seems pathetic to me, like an insult. You are wishing them “shit,” waste, something useless.

Yet, in the sharp mindset of many Argentinians, this is a wish “for good.” I find it hard to believe; I see it more as rooted in envy and ill wishes towards the other: I want you not to do well, but if I tell you directly, you will surely take offense, so I tell you with a phrase that implies it, but I lie to you and hide the phrase behind an interpretation that conveys a good wish, contrary to what the phrase actually states.

To wrap up, the phrase in question has evolved in the language of Argentinians for whatever specific reason. The truth is that many now say "mucha merde", which is basically the same thing but nicer. Saying "mucha mierda" is too shocking for some, but since that is what they actually mean, they say it more softly, hiding or distorting the word. Others, who feel less vulgar—even if deep down they think the same—cannot lower themselves to say "mucha mierda", so they adopt "mucha merde", marking a difference from the vulgar crowd. Thus, we see well-differentiated groups who, even if they share the same underlying intention regarding the message they want to convey, try to prevent anyone from noticing. There are those of one kind and those of the other.

I found it appropriate to add to this message, so as not to let it pass: the "merde" expression comes from the era of horse-drawn carriages—the more successful a theater play was, the more horses would “poop” on the street where the theater was located... ergo, the more shit, the more successful the play.

I understand that the phrase makes sense, but within its context. How long has it been since people stopped arriving at theaters on horseback? And at theaters! Not only is it an anachronistic phrase today, but it is also used for any situation all the time, completely taken out of context.

(Originally published on 12-09-2006)