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OPPORTUNITY QUOTES II

Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away.

DOUG LARSON, attributed, Pooped Puppies

To think and to will without doing, when there is opportunity, is like a flame enclosed in a vessel and goes out; also like seed cast upon the sand, which fails to grow, and so perishes with its power of germination.

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG, Heaven and Its Wonders and Hell

Opportunity is a God whose face is concealed by hair, so that we seldom know him when he comes to us. He has wings on his feet, so that when once gone he cannot be overtaken.

D. A. K. STEELE, The Chicago Clinic, Apr. 1989

Equality of opportunity is the essence of social justice.

A. M. HONORÉ, "Social Justice"

Men do with opportunities as children do at the seashore; they fill their little hands with sand, and then let the grains fall through, one by one, till all are gone.

T. JONES, attributed, The Book of Positive Quotations

Opportunity is a door leading up to another plane of life. But that door is not plainly marked like the exits at a theatre. "Enter here" is not written over the portal. Nevertheless it is fairly easy to find the door to any chosen place for all around all of us are plenty of opportunities. Look not afar for the opening. Look close at hand for it, whatever direction your ambition may take. Look intently, think long and deeply about your virtues and vices and circumstances. Perhaps in the very work which is in your hands is the knob which swings open the door of the opportunity for which you long. If you cannot find the opportunity then you are unworthy of the better place to which that opportunity would lead.

JAMES E. CLARK, "The Adjustment of Life," Business Philosopher, Mar. 1909

An opportunity is a conjunction of circumstances by which one may improve his condition of life or his equipment for life.

WILLIAM DE WITT HYDE, Vocations

If time be a ring of gold, opportunity is the rich diamond that gives it both its value and glory.

JOHN FLAVEL, "A Treatise of the Soul of Man"

Opportunity is ever present though constantly passing. Opportunity is a procession of opportunities. The doubtful man bewails the opportunity just gone, and which he has lost, but the time spent in bewailing his loss and blaming somebody, prevents him from seeing the opportunity then present, but again not seen until it too has just gone.

H. W. PERCIVAL, The Word, July, 1908

Although opportunity is more definite than luck, and is apparently governed by more distinguishable laws, it cannot always be corralled and is at times elusive. It is an undeniable fact that equal opportunity does not present itself with apparent fairness; but it is also as positive a fact that opportunity is likely to come to those who seek it, and to avoid those who make no effort to meet it or to prepare themselves to entertain it when it does come.

NATHANIEL CLARK FOWLER, Getting a Start

Bad chances were better than no chances.

STEPHEN KING, Under the Dome

The dynamic power of a resolute soul is but little affected by outward circumstance. I have no patience with the whining complaint that success in life is dependent upon opportunity, and that opportunity is largely a matter of chance. For the aggressive man opportunity is never wanting. Let him make the most of opportunity and opportunity will make the most of him.

JAMES M. BECK, commencement address at University of Pennsylvania, Jun. 12, 1901

To come before the opportunity, is to come before the bird is hatched; and to come after the opportunity is to come when the bird is flown. There is no calling back time, when it is once past.

JOHN FLAVEL, The Herald of Gospel Liberty, Sep. 22, 1921

Our abilities and ambitions count for little, unless the door of opportunity is open to us.

NICIAS BALLARD COOKSEY, Helps to Happiness

Opportunities are a tricky crop, with tiny flowers that are difficult to see and even more difficult to harvest.

BRIAN HERBERT & KEVIN J. ANDERSON, The Butlerian Jihad

Opportunity is as constant as the shadows that walk with us, and is always present in our affairs.

DOC SCHMIDT, The International Stereotypers and Electrotypers Union Journal, Apr. 1921

Your opportunity is just as good, perhaps even better, than any other man's. Get to work where you are. And get to work right now.

WILLIAM A. RADFORD, Cement World, Apr. 15, 1908

We must have opportunity or we cannot hope for happiness. Our abilities and ambitions count for little, unless the door of opportunity is open to us, and he who is alert, and sees and appreciates opportunity, is on the certain road to happiness.

NICIAS BALLARD COOKSEY, Helps to Happiness

Opportunity is coy, is swift, is gone, before the slow, the unobservant, the indolent, or the careless can seize her.

ORISON SWETT MARDEN, Architects of Fate

The man who sees an opportunity and does nothing is asleep with his eyes open.

BRIAN HERBERT & KEVEN J. ANDERSON, Dune: House Corrino

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