Virtù and Fortuna are the two pillars of Machiavelli's thesis. Virtù is translated in many different ways. "Power" or "strength of character" perhaps come closest; but the moral implication of virtue clearly is missing. Fortuna, usually translated as "fortune" (or sometimes "luck"), is not out of our control. You are presented with circumstances and the opportunity to alter them; i.e., you make your own luck.

"I think it may be true that Fortune governs half more or less of our actions, but that even so she leaves the other half more or less in our power to control."