Deus' First law:
Simply thinking that one is prodigal negates the possibility.
Addendum to Deus' First law:
The exception to this is when the ability in question is either of charisma, or wealth.
Deus' Second law:
The wealthy and the charismatic eventually fall to the poor and the meek, for no other reason than they do not fear them.
Deus' Third law:
Fearing those which pose no apparent threat causes downfall in unto itself.
Deus' combined theorem:
If you're wise enough to understand the difference between normality and the exceptional, you have nothing to fear, except those that do not.
