---
name: "fortune"
section: "1plan9"
platform: "linux"
package: "9base"
version: "1:6-14"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fortune"
---

# fortune(1plan9)

sample lines from a file

## NAME

fortune - sample lines from a file

## SYNOPSIS

**fortune** \[ *file* \]

## DESCRIPTION

*Fortune* prints a one-line aphorism chosen at random. If a *file* is specified, the saying is taken from that file; otherwise it is selected from **/lib/fortunes**.

## FILES

**/lib/fortunes**\
 **/lib/fortunes.index**   fast lookup table, maintained automatically

## SOURCE

**/src/cmd/fortune.c**