When Fortune is on our side, popular favour bears her company.

Approval tends to follow success rather than cause it, and it leaves in the same order. People who are warm to you while things go well are often responding to the run rather than to you, and neither of you is being dishonest about it. Knowing this in advance takes some of the sting out of the thinning that comes later.

While things are good, notice who is close for reasons that have nothing to do with your results. Keep those people properly, with time rather than favours. And take current praise as pleasant information about your circumstances rather than a verdict on your worth.