FORTUNE(6)                           BSD                            FORTUNE(6)



NAME
     fortune - print a random, hopefully interesting, adage

SYNOPSIS
     /usr/games/fortune [ - ] [ -wslao ] [ -m pattern ] [ file ]

DESCRIPTION
     fortune with no arguments prints out a random adage. You may specify an
     alternate file of adages from which to read.  This file must be created
     by strfile(6).  Only one such file may be named in a single command line;
     subsequent ones are ignored.

OPTIONS
     -w          Wait before termination for an amount of time calculated from
                 the number of characters in the message.  This is useful if
                 fortune is executed as part of the logout procedure to
                 guarantee that the message can be read before the screen is
                 cleared.

     -s          Short apothegms only.

     -l          Long dicta only.

     -o          Choose from an alternate list of aphorisms, often used for
                 potentially offensive ones.

     -a          Choose from either list of maxims.

     -m pattern  Print all fortunes which match the regular expression
                 pattern.  See regexp(3).

FILES
     /usr/games/lib/fortunes.dat

SEE ALSO
     regexp(3), strfile(6)