Quotes about opportunity (2026 quotes, page 20)

“Shall it be said of us in after years that we studied the history of the rise and fall of empires, republics, revolutions , and Caesar's for naught? Shall men say of us we missed our opportunity?.”

Arthur Desmond (1859–1929) New Zealnd writer

Rival Caesars (1903)

Study , History , Men

“I stick to the view I have always held that Hitler missed the bus in September 1938. He could have dealt France and ourselves a terrible, perhaps a mortal, blow then. The opportunity will not recur.”

Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940) Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Letter to Hilda Chamberlain (30 December 1939), quoted in Maurice Cowling, The Impact of Hitler. British Politics and British Policy. 1933-1940 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1975), p. 355
Prime Minister

“The elite is ignorant of the favela because it doesn't want to see, and the favela doesn't know the rest of Brazil because it is deprived of the means and the opportunity.”

Paulo Lins (1958) Brazilian author

These are two different worlds that have no contact with each other…

On how his book City of God shed light on Brazil’s slums in “THE SATURDAY PROFILE; Out of the Slums of Rio, an Author Finds Fame” https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/26/world/the-saturday-profile-out-of-the-slums-of-rio-an-author-finds-fame.html in The New York Times (2003 Apr 26)

“Always look at the long-term opportunity. Take a business where you can see the long-term potential, then put in a management team you can trust to execute your strategy.”

Bhanu Choudhrie (1978)

"Bhanu Choudhrie – C & C Alpha Group" https://www.thewealthscene.com/business-leaders-entrepreneurs/bhanu-choudhrie-c-c-alpha-group/, The Wealth Scene (2018)

Business

“The opportunity is not to discover the perfect company for ourselves. The opportunity is to build the perfect company for each other.”

Simon Sinek (1973) British/American author and motivational speaker

Source: Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team

Perfection

“[T]he great Distributing House or Department Store... may be permitted to represent the modern spirit of organization. It is to the writer the most interesting of all forms of business, and by its constant and necessary publicity it occupies perhaps the most conspicuous place in the public mind. It usually employs the greatest number of people... It frequently... pays out in salaries and wages a larger sum weekly than any other single business, and is more often approached by those seeking opportunity to work than any other. Its daily transactions are large in volume, its cash handled is very great. It is intimately associated with every family in the community in supplying them with the necessities of life, and thus... enters into the daily life of the city in which it is.”

Harry Gordon Selfridge (1858–1947) America born English businessman

The Romance of Commerce (1918), A Representative Business of the Twentieth Century

Family , Housing , Business , People

“Nothingness is capacity, and night the opportunity of light.”

Coventry Patmore (1823–1896) English poet

Vol. II, Ch. V Aphorisms and Extracts, p. 68.
Memoirs and Correspondence (1900)

Light , Night

“It is exactly this men’s health void that creates your son’s men’s health opportunity.”

Warren Farrell (1943) author, spokesperson, expert witness, political candidate

Source: The Boy Crisis (2018), pp. 300

Health , Men

“The time has not yet come for dealing with the world illusion on a large scale, for the race is not adequately mental nor has the illusion (which is, as I have stated, pre-eminently the result of the misinterpretation of ideas) reached its height. But the hour has struck for the first steps to be taken in the dissipation of glamour, and the hold of glamour upon the race should be appreciably lessened in the future. Hence the practical training now being given in this group in their own lives; hence also the intended teaching later to be given to the group—if they measure up to the opportunity—which will enable them to aid in the concerted and planned attack upon the world glamour. Wrestle therefore with your personal problems along these lines, my brothers, for in this way you will gain facility in discernment, in clear precise action, and in strengthened understanding.”

Alice A. Bailey (1880–1949) esoteric, theosophist, writer

Source: Glamour: A World Problem (1950), The Nature of Glamor

Time , Understanding , Personality , Future

“Every safety measure has been taken, and I know I’m in good hands. The important thing for an actor or performer is to get constant visibility; now with films being stalled, this is the perfect opportunity for us to impress audiences every day. After the show, I will make my Bollywood debut, and down south, I really hope I get a chance to work with Vijay Sethupathi sir.”

Nikki Tamboli (1996) Indian Actress

Bigg Boss 14: Nikki Tamboli wants to work with Vijay Sethupathi after reality show

Perfection , Chance , Making love , Hope

“I am talking about the accumulated evidence of the last 5 years that our present tax system, developed as it was, in good part, during World War II to restrain growth, exerts too heavy a drag on growth in peace time; that it siphons out of the private economy too large a share of personal and business purchasing power; that it reduces the financial incentives for personal effort, investment, and risk-taking. In short, to increase demand and lift the economy, the Federal Government's most useful role is not to rush into a program of excessive increases in public expenditures, but to expand the incentives and opportunities for private expenditures. [...] While rising demand will expand imports, new investment in more efficient productive facilities will aid exports and a new economic climate could both draw capital from abroad and keep capital here at home.”

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America

Source: 1962, Address and Question and Answer Period at the Economic Club of New York

Home , Peace , Drawing , Time

“I see the slow metamorphosis into streaming, catch up services supplanting main channels and people watching on a range of devices. There’s limitless opportunity worldwide because optimistic story telling is part of human endeavour.”

Jonathan M. Shiff Australian television producer

People , Parting

“Never quit. You can’t wait for yourself to happen, you have to go out there and make it happen. If you truly believe in something you can make it happen. Get a good agent. They cost money, but that’s your first step. Your first film opportunities will most likely not be big, but that’s how you’re discovered by others. Eventually a director or a casting director will see you in a minor film/commercial/broadway, etc. and you’ll get your big break. Always be polite and professional. There are often many, many other people auditioning for the same part as you. If you’re not polite or professional they won’t even waste their time with you.”

Mackenzie Rosman (1989) American actress

Source: Mack’s Fan’s Questions & Answers http://mackrosman.net/press-release (March 19, 2008)

Money , Time , Waiting , People

“There...is the necessity for freedom of speech and the arts. We have to scrutinize all the advances of society to judge whether they are cruel or frustrate cruelty, and for that purpose we must hear the evidence of all persons affected by their operation and of all persons qualified by experience or learning or speculative gifts to form an interesting opinion on what those operations might be. It is therefore necessary that all classes of men should be given the fullest opportunity to express themselves without constraint, not only out of admiration for an abstraction , but as a practical measure toward human survival. It is also necessary that the artist, of whatsoever kind, should be free to anatomize the spirit, so that we can comprehend the battlefield that is this life, and which are the troops of light and which of darkness, and what light may be, and darkness.”

Rebecca West (1892–1983) British feminist and author

Source: "I Believe", in I Believe : The Personal Philosophies of Certain Eminent Men and Women Of Our Time edited by Clifton Fadiman. New York : Simon and Schuster, 1939.

Freedom , Light , Personality , Learning

“There is no distinction here between the kinds of service, provided they are unselfish, strenuous, moved by the ideal to help and serve... I cannot give you one by one the numerous divisions of the Way of Service. Anything that is of value to human life is included on that way. Choose then what way you will, because of your capacities and your opportunities; it matters not as regards the treading of the first steps.”

Annie Besant (1847–1933) British socialist, theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator

Source: Initiation, The Perfecting of Man, 1923, p. 20

Way , Life , Help

“Now, one of the great facts which underlie the whole possibility of a Path of Human Perfecting, that I must take for granted throughout the lectures — for to deal with it as a matter for argument would lead us far away from our subject — one of the fundamental facts in Nature, is the fact of reincarnation. That means the gradual growth of man through many lives, through many experiences of the physical world, of the intermediate world, and also of the world called heaven. Evolution would be too short to enable a man to grow from imperfection to perfection, unless he had many opportunities, a long, long road to lead him upward.”

Annie Besant (1847–1933) British socialist, theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator

Source: Initiation, The Perfecting of Man (1923)

Perfection , World , Nature

“The way I see it, it's a great thing to be the man who hit the most home runs, but it's a greater thing to be the man who did the most with the home runs he hit. So as long as there's a chance that maybe I can hammer out a little justice now and then, or a little opportunity here and there, I intend to do as I always have — keep swinging.”

Hank Aaron (1934) Retired American baseball player

Source: I Had a Hammer : The Hank Aaron Story (1990), Ch. 1

Way , Home , Chance , Justice

“When we think about how we address problems in this country, we often start from a place of trickle-down justice. So using white folks as the control we say, well, if we make things better for white folks then everybody else is going to get free. But actually it doesn't work that way.... When we talk about the wage gap, we often say women make 78 cents to every dollar that a man makes. You all have heard that before. But those are the statistics for white women and white men. The reality is that black women make something like 64 cents to every 78 cents that white women make. When we talk about Latinas, it goes down to about 58 cents. If we were to talk about indigenous women, if we were to talk about trans women, it would even go further down. So again, if you deal with those who are the most impacted, everybody has an opportunity to benefit from that, rather than dealing with the folks who are not as impacted, and expecting it to trickle down.”

Alicia Garza (1981) Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter International movement

An Interview with the Founders of Black Lives Matter, Ted Talks, https://www.ted.com/talks/alicia_garza_patrisse_cullors_and_opal_tometi_an_interview_with_the_founders_of_black_lives_matter?language=en (October 2016)

Justice , Country , Problem , Thinking

“I have never chosen easy life, I have always chosen what I felt in my heart, because I live in feelings... of what I feel, not of opportunism, not of falsehood... but of simple, true things.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Non ho mai scelto la vita facile, ho sempre scelto ciò che sentivo nel cuore, perché io vivo di sentimenti... di ciò che provo, non di opportunismo, non di falsità... ma di cose semplici, vere.
Source: prevale.net

Life , Feeling , Heart

“As new technologies search out and lace over every interstice in the net of global communication, we find ourselves with increasingly less excuse for…slack. And that, I would argue, is what the World Wide Web, the test pattern for whatever will become the dominant global medium, offers us. Today, in its clumsy, larval, curiously innocent way, it offers us the opportunity to waste time…It will probably evolve into something considerably less random, and less fun — we seem to have a knack for that — but in the meantime, in its gloriously unsorted Global Ham Television Postcard Universes phase, surfing the Web is a procrastinator’s dream. And people who see you doing it might even imagine you’re working.”

William Gibson book Distrust That Particular Flavor

"The Net Is a Waste of Time," The New York Times Magazine, July 14, 1996.
Distrust That Particular Flavor (2012)

Imagination , Time , Search , Dreams

“No one I imagine is so stupid as to believe that truth or even an approximation of truth is derived from counting pieces of marked paper and that the largest pile of papers is it. What makes democracy so fragile is the certain knowledge, even by the winners, that it is often wrong and if they think it’s right now, then it’s either been wrong at some time in the past or will be at some time in the future. There is then a shaky agreement on both sides of a democratic debate that there is some more fundamental reason for using this method to make decisions than that it is always right. In Western Europe over the last century or so that shaky agreement has not always held together and indeed it still is far from ordinary worldwide. A common everyday reason why most people accept democratic results is that they are rarely always on the losing side. And in the case of government elections they can have another opportunity to persuade the majority that the opinion they hold is correct and hope that the mistakes of the previous few years are not so very bad. On a much deeper level however respecting the “will of the people” comes from a profoundly scary place.”

Justin Barrett (1971) Irish activist

A Republic of Innocent Dead Cannot Live https://nationalparty.ie/a-republic-of-innocent-dead-cannot-live/ (June 4, 2018)

Democracy , Imagination , Time , Past

“War is righteous or unrighteous according as it is opportune or inopportune.”

Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (1830–1903) British politician

Speech https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1878/jan/17/address-in-answer-to-her-majestys-most#column_54 in the House of Lords (17 January 1878)
1870s

War

“Life today is fast and full of opportunity. The complication is we think we have to do everything. The implication of this is we end up being pulled into endless distractions without pausing to really think. My position is we can make a different choice. We can discern what is really essential. We can design a life that really matters.”

Greg McKeown (author) book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Popular Quotes, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Journal Articles

Life , Thinking , Making love

“We believe there is an opportunity for institutions like the Giants to create a healing function.”

Larry Baer (1957) MLB Executive

Giants' Larry Baer talks about coronavirus impact on baseball season https://www.ktvu.com/news/giants-larry-baer-talks-about-coronavirus-impact-on-baseball-season, KTVU (April 3, 2020)

“My friends, a new day has dawned on Ontario! A day of opportunity, a day of prosperity and a day of growth. We’re going to turn this province around, so our children and their children will always be proud to call Ontario home. We will make sure Ontario is the greatest place on Earth to live, to do business and to raise a family. And we will make Ontario once again the engine of Canada.”

Doug Ford (1964) 26th Premier of Ontario

Victory speech the night of the 2018 Ontario general election https://www.macleans.ca/politics/doug-fords-victory-speech-ontario-is-open-for-business-full-transcript/ (7 June 2018)
2018

Family , Home , Making love , Business

“It’s beautiful when you have the opportunity to change from a completely inward role to a very organic, present role.”

Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey (1986) Franco-Spanish actress

Astrid Bergès-Frisbey's prismatic peepers https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/21865/1/astrid-berges-frisbeys-prismatic-peepers (September 26, 2014)

Beauty , Change

“Many of the Dioceses of Papua have been gifted with an old evangelization: the Christian population has grown and has received an excellent education. Today, in the new social and cultural context, opportunities to transmit the faith have decreased and new roads and new ways to bring the Gospel to children, youth and families are needed.”

Stephen Joseph Reichert (1943) American priest

The Church in Papua committed to the new evangelization http://www.fides.org/en/news/31701-OCEANIA_PAPUA_NEW_GUINEA_The_Church_in_Papua_committed_to_the_new_evangelization (11 June 2012)

Family , Faith , Youth , Way

“In the hood, even if you're not a hardcore criminal, crime is in your life in some way or another. There are degrees of it. It's everyone from the mom buying some food that fell off the back of a truck to feed her family, all the way up to the gangs selling military-grade weapons and hardware. The hood made me realize that crime succeeds because crime does the one thing the government doesn't do: crime cares. Crime is grassroots. Crime looks for the young kids who need support and a lifting hand. Crime offers internship programs and summer jobs and opportunities for advancement. Crime gets involved in the community. Crime doesn't discriminate.”

Trevor Noah book Born a Crime

page 209
Born a Crime

Family , Food , Support , Communication

“I think the whole movement of #MeToo is not just calling out the sexual harassers, which is really important, but also crying out that we want equal pay, equal representation, equal opportunities, and that we want to see more female directors and photographers.”

Jamie Chung (1983) American actress

As quoted in "#MeToo not just about calling out sexual harassers" in The Korea Times (31 March 2018) http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2018/04/398_245997.html?utm_source=dable

Thinking , Cry

“We are servants of the Crown as well as servants of the people... I am not ashamed to say that in my old age I rejoice in any opportunity which enables me to testify that, whatever may be thought of my opinions, whatever may be thought of my proposals in general politics, I do not forget the service which I have borne for so many years to the illustrious representative of the British Monarchy.”

William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898) British Liberal politician and prime minister of the United Kingdom

Speech https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1889/jul/25/the-royal-grants#S3V0338P0_18890725_HOC_142 in the House of Commons (25 July 1889)
1880s

Forgetting , People , Age

“In a nutshell, poor education, a poor culture (one that impedes people from operating effectively together), poor infrastructure, and too much debt cause bad economic results. The best results come when there is more rather than less of: a) equal opportunity in education and in work, b) good family or family-like upbringing through the high school years, c) civilized behavior within a system that most people believe is fair, and d) free and well-regulated markets for goods, services, labor, and capital that provide incentives, savings, and financing opportunities to most people.”

Ray Dalio (1949) American businessman

[Economic Principles – Why and How Capitalism Needs to be Reformed, April 5, 2019, lejourdapres.parlement-ouvert.fr, https://lejourdapres.parlement-ouvert.fr/uploads/decidim/attachment/file/308/Economic_Principles_-_Why_and_How_Capitalism_Needs_To_Be_Reformed.pdf] (quote from p. 5 of 42)

School , Family , Education , Bad luck

“Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great today as they ever were.”

David Rockefeller (1915–2017) American banker and philanthropist

Success , Business , Training

“America's freedom of religion, and freedom from religion, offers every wisdom tradition an opportunity to address our soul-deep needs: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, secular humanism, agnosticism and atheism among others.”

Parker Palmer (1939) American theologian

Soul , Religion , Freedom , Wisdom

“Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.”

Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American author

“Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.”

Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American author

“When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.”

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America

Motivational , Deep , Success , Inspirational

“Democracy's premise rests on the notion that the collective wisdom of the majority will prove right more often than it's wrong; that given sufficient opportunity in the pursuit of happiness, your population will develop its talents, its intellect, its better judgment; that over time its capacity for discernment and self-correction will be enlarged.”

Ben Fountain (1958) American writer

Democracy , Happiness , Time , Wisdom

“Now we are living in the digital age. I feel very lucky and appreciative that young people now have the opportunity of coming to know the kind of films we shot in the past.”

Brigitte Lin (1954) Taiwanese actress

As quoted in "Brigitte Lin, a timeless national treasure" in Taipei Times (15 May 2018) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2018/05/15/2003693091

People , Past , Age , Feeling

“Building your presence across all social media platforms is the single greatest opportunity to stand out.”

Vladimer Botsvadze

“Each day, we have the opportunity to make hay while the sun shines. Make each second count.”

Vladimer Botsvadze

Sun

“Effective people are not problem-minded; they're opportunity-minded. They feed opportunities and starve problems.”

Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012) American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker

Source: Stephen Covey Official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=374674680694534&set=a.310931753735494

People , Problem

“Never give any kind of drugs the opportunity to become master of your life.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Non concedere mai a nessun tipo di droga l'opportunità di diventare padrona della tua vita.
Source: prevale.net

Life

“What we are is consciousness. The body is the vehicle through which consciousness can taste experiencing. And in the human form, consciousness has the capacity and opportunity to realise its own source and thus come into a direct experience of this.”

Mooji (1954) Jamaican spiritual teacher

Greater than Sky, Vaster than Space, (2018), Part I

“Many individual immune systems will be compromised by the hardships of the Long Emergency and disease will seize the opportunities presented, as it always has. […] Millions of human beings are going to die.”

James Howard Kunstler book The Long Emergency

Source: The Long Emergency (2005), Chapter 5, p. 182.

Disease

“I've always been very happy as a priest and I expect to be very happy in just kind of getting to know people. I think one of the most important things a priest does is that he has an opportunity to spend time with people and I'm looking forward to that.”

Daniel E. Flores (1961) Catholic bishop

Youngest bishop in the U.S. ready to “propose the mystery” of the Church to Detroit https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/8177/youngest-bishop-in-the-us-ready-to-propose-the-mystery-of-the-church-to-detroit (November 29, 2006)

Happiness , People , Time , Thinking

“I really didn't have any fear about the humiliation factor. That was something I was excited to get the opportunity to explore. My fears were about pulling it off.”

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (1984) American actress and singer

"Mary Elizabeth Winstead: from scream queen to alcoholic in Smashed" in The Guardian (29 November 2012) https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/nov/29/mary-elizabeth-winstead-scream-queen-alcoholic-smashed

Fear

“Every chance is an opportunity!”

Matti Nykänen (1963–2019) Finnish ski jumper

https://fi.wikiquote.org/wiki/Matti_Nykänen
Original: (fi) Jokainen tsäänssi on mahdollisuus!

Chance

“Let yourself be attracted by a loyal person, you will also have the rare opportunity to fall in love with its value.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Lasciati attrarre da una persona leale, avrai anche la rara opportunità di innamorarti del suo valore.
Source: prevale.net

Personality , Love

“Every workplace should be legally forced to be inclusive to LGBT people in job opportunities.”

Zhiar Ali (1999) Kurdish human rights activist and artist

Discussing the issue of LGBT+ individuals not getting jobs due to their sexuality.
Source: [هاوڕەگەزخوازیی لە كوردستان؛ حەزێكی سروشتیی بێ پشت و پەنا, http://www.peregraf.com/ku/report/2186/هاوڕەگەزخوازیی-لە-كوردستان؛-حەزێكی-سروشتیی-بێ-پشت-و-پەنا, پەرەگراف, May 10, 2021, ku]

People

“We should not look down upon ourselves. By domestic tourism we are saying this is the opportunity to enjoy as couples and as family where we can eat without cooking for ourselves or cleaning the house for a day or two.”

Mai Chisamba (1952)

"ZTA Ropes in Mai Chisamba as Tourism Ambassador" https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zta-ropes-in-mai-chisamba-as-tourism-ambassador, Chronicle (September 29, 2021)

Family , Housing , Cooking

“I was interested in giving folks like black, poor people who’ve been marginalized, brutalized, an opportunity to have more visibility. Before seven years ago, we could barely get the news to talk about police violence, let alone police death.”

Opal Tometi (1984) Nigerian–American writer, strategist and community organizer

How the movement that’s changing America was built and where it goes next, By Jamil Smith, Rolling Stone, (16 June 2020)

People , Death

“One of our national characteristics is not to do things without careful deliberation. Those who are privileged to direct the aspirations of a quarter of the world’s population have a wonderful opportunity but a fearful responsibility.”

Soong Mei-ling (1897–2003) Chiang Kai-shek's wife, First Lady of the Republic of China

China Emergent (May 1942)

World , Fear

“It doesn't take much energy to create the opportunities once you have gained the ability.”

Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author

“There's so little representation of people who look like me behind the camera that it makes you want to say yes to any opportunity out of desperation. It puts you in a situation where you can't make your best work. Diversity for cheap.”

Lulu Wang (1983) Asian-American filmmaker

As quoted in "Lulu Wang Spots the Lie The director of the Sundance sensation The Farewell has made the kind of movie Hollywood never makes." in Vulture (1 July 2019) https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/lulu-wang-the-farewell-profile.html

People

“More families should watch the Olympics together. To me, those are core American family values: Cheering on a corrupt institutional body that's super problematic with money and opportunity but we all pretend like it's an equal playing field and celebrate it - what's more American than that?”

Jonathan Van Ness (1987) American hairstylist and television personality

page 17
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love (2019)

Money , Family

“Our children are not individuals whore rights and tastes are casually respected from infancy, as they are in some primitive societies . . . . They are fundamentally extension of our own egos and give a special opportunity for the display of authority.”

Ruth Benedict Patterns of Culture

Patterns of Culture, 7

Whore , Children

“Love is a very strange idea. I never know what it is. When you were young it seemed to be all intensity and no opportunity. Later when you did get the opportunity the fire had gone out of it.”

Bernard MacLaverty book Cal

Source: Novels, Cal (1983), Ch.5 - p.140

Idea , Love

“Workers who don’t share ownership of the robots will be reduced to political powerlessness far worse than their conditions today. We have the opportunity to solve this problem during the bootstrapping period while human labor is still needed for space industry.”

Sheyene Gerardi Venezuelan actor and model

[NASA CLASS Announces Collaboration With Actress Sheyene Gerardi, http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=38c46884-5abc-491a-89aa-c9bb0b71195c]

Problem

“[W]e must decide which choices in our lives really matter and focus our time and energy there, letting many other opportunities pass us by.”

Barry Schwartz book The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

The Paradox of Choice (2004)

Time

“I take any opportunity I can to raise our country's flag really high and get some shining positive light on things over there.”

Kirsty Coventry (1983) Zimbabwean swimmer

Website https://www.kirstycoventry.com/new-page

Light , Country

“Politics should not be used to create hatred because the country is in trouble now. Don't take this opportunity to cause any further trouble.”

Prayut Chan-o-cha (1954) Thai military officer, junta chief, and politician

Source: "Prayut vows not to resign" in Bangkok Post https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2157447/prayut-vows-not-to-resign (31 July 2021)

Country

“Inability to cooperate with others. More people lose their positions and their big opportunities in life, because of this fault, than for all other reasons combined.”

Napoleon Hill book Think and Grow Rich

Think and Grow Rich (1938)

People , Life

“Procrastination is one of the most common causes of failure.... Procrastination stands within the shadow of every human being, waiting his opportunity to spoil one's chances of success.”

Napoleon Hill book Think and Grow Rich

Think and Grow Rich (1938)

Chance , Waiting , Success , Failure

“The unprecedented circumstances we live in represent a unique opportunity for us to rethink the global role of multilateralism and strengthen the importance of orderly globalization and a rules-based international order.”

Andrej Plenković (1970) Prime Minister of Croatia

Source: "Speech at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly" https://undocs.org/en/A/75/PV.10 (25 September 2020)

“After years of litigation, I was pleased to have had the opportunity to tell my side of this ridiculous story — Just one more example of baseless harassment of your favorite president”

Donald J. Trump (1946) 45th President of the United States of America

Source: " Trump faces a pile of civil lawsuits as depositions begin https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-faces-pile-civil-lawsuits-depositions-begin-n1281612" (October 18, 2021)

“Pakistan can only be achieved through shedding blood of ourselves, and if need be, and if opportunity arose, by shedding blood of others. Muslims are no believers in Ahimsa.”

Abdur Rab Nishtar (1899–1958) Pakistani politician

Source: Attributed by Gurbachan Singh Talib in Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947, p. 34 https://books.google.com/books?id=WScbAAAAIAAJ&q=Pakistan+can+only+be+achieved+through+shedding+blood+of+ourselves,+and+if+need+be,+and+if+opportunity+arose,+by+shedding+blood+of+others.+Muslims+are&dq=Pakistan+can+only+be+achieved+through+shedding+blood+of+ourselves,+and+if+need+be,+and+if+opportunity+arose,+by+shedding+blood+of+others.+Muslims+are&hl=es-419&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidlJ3gj_vqAhUyHbkGHeBYCTcQ6AEwAnoECAYQAg, 1950, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee

“The problem with paranoia was that if you let it rule all your decisions, then you would miss some perfectly good opportunities.”

Genevieve Cogman (1972) novelist and game designer

Source: The Burning Page (2016), Chapter 24 (p. 315)

Problem , Decision

“[W]hen people talk about climate, I think jobs. Within our climate response lies an extraordinary engine of job creation and economic opportunity ready to be fired up.”

Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)

2021, April 2021
Source: 22 April 2021 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/04/22/remarks-by-president-biden-at-the-virtual-leaders-summit-on-climate-opening-session/

People , Thinking

“I do not have the name recognition that some of the candidates have out there, so every day that goes by before that occurs is a day that is a missed opportunity to work on that.”

Dave Schatz (1963) American politician

Source: Missouri Senate leader Dave Schatz mulls entry into 2022 U.S. Senate race https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-leader-dave-schatz-mulls-entry-into-2022-senate-race/ (1 April 2021)

“When I talk to the American people about climate change, I tell them it’s about jobs. It’s about workers and the communities that will revitalize themselves around new industries and opportunities.”

Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)

2021, November 2021, US President's Statement on Day 2 of the 2021 UN Climate Conference

People , Communication , Change

“An accurate history should not only record the periods of glory but the moments of degeneration, of the missed opportunities, and of the failure to forge national unity at crucial junctures in time. It should draw lessons for the future generations from costly errors in the past.”

Subramanian Swamy (1939) Indian politician

2015-Present
Source: Foreword by Subramanian Swamy in Atri, N., & Sagar, M. A. (2017). Brainwashed republic.

Drawing , History , Failure , Time

“The police have an opportunity to launder their image through positive representation in film.”

Ego Boyo (1968) Nigerian actress and movie producer

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/381261-how-nigeria-police-can-improve-image-through-film-ego-boyo.html Boyo talks about police officers portraying a positive view of life.

“To reduce opportunities for corruption, you do things like structural changes in the economy.”

Oby Ezekwesili (1963) Nigerian accountant, politician, human rights activist, convener of bring back our girls (Chibok girls) and pres…

Source: https://independent.ng/2019debate-30-powerful-quotes-from-oby-ezekwesili-reactions-to-questions/ Oby Ezekwesili's reply to question during 2019 presidential debate.

Change

“You just need to put yourself out there the worst case is you will get rejected but you will get a lot more opportunities that you would if you just never really put yourself out and it may not be an easy thing to do to step outside your comfort zone and really put yourself out there.”

Ire Aderinokun (1991) Nigerian front end developer

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5PfGItfqg8 Ire Aderinokun speaking on Rejection.

“When we jump to a conclusion before doing research, we tend to look for evidence that supports our beliefs and ignore facts that contradict them. This deprives us of the opportunity to grow our knowledge.”

Guy P. Harrison (1963) American skeptic author

Support , Knowledge

“Failure is only the opportunity more intelligently to begin again. There is no disgrace in honest failure; there is disgrace in fearing to fail.”

Henry Ford book My Life and Work

Source: 1920s, My Life and Work (1922), pp. 19–20. Quoted in Samuel Crowther, "Henry Ford's Problem," The Magazine of Business, vol. 52 (1927), p. 182

Fear , Intelligence , Failure

“The best way to create opportunities is to send, from time to time, expeditions to countries with which there is a chance to establish commercial relations.”

Henri Alexis Brialmont (1821–1903) Belgian military engineer and writer (1821-1903)

Source: All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 5. A prospectus by the military Chazal and Brialmont, The military centipede Henri-Alexis Brialmont (1821-1893) http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 Brialmont and Leopold II speculate on controlling multiple trading posts, which would be more beneficial than a Colony under economic liberalism. BRIALMONT, H.A. Completion of the work of 1830: establishments to be created in the transatlantic countries: future of Belgian commerce and industry. Brussel, 1860, 65-66.

Chance , Time , Country , Way

“I do think they [the EU] understand there's an opportunity to do a deal. I think it's going to be touch and go.”

Boris Johnson (1964) British politician, historian and journalist

2010s, 2019
Source: Brexit: Johnson accused of ‘gaslighting’ voters amid claims he offered nothing new in EU meeting https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-boris-johnson-donald-tusk-meeting-g7-summit-a9078646.html (26 August 2019)

Understanding , Thinking

“I often say that censorship is always a cause for celebration. It is always an opportunity because it reveals fear of reform. It means that the power position is so weak that you have got to care what people think.”

Julian Assange book When Google Met Wikileaks

Source: Julian Assange, "When Google Met Wikileaks" (ORbooks, New York, 2014), p. 121

People , Fear , Thinking

“When angry do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no such room or foothold for the devil give no opportunity to him.”

book Bible

Source: Ephesians 4:26-27, AMP

Sun , Truth

“The life I've led has only been made possible because I'm an American. The astounding people I've met along the way, the astonishing experience I've had, and the amazing opportunities I've been given have far exceeded anything I could have ever hoped for or expected.”

Lynn Compton book Call of Duty

Source: Call of Duty: My Life Before, During and After the Band of Brothers (2008), Preamble

Hope , People , Way , Life

“Take advantage of every opportunity that you get. I was always one to go into any singing competition and taking advantage of offers for any performances. Just get as much experience as you can. Don’t listen when people say "Oh you can’t do that." If you want it keep going for it.”

Victoria Duffield (1995) Canadian actor, singer and dancer

Source: Interview: Canada’s Hottest New Pop Star Victoria Duffield https://www.realstylenetwork.com/celebrities/2012/02/interview-canadas-hottest-new-pop-star-victoria-duffield/ (2012)

People , Singing

“As we ring in the New Year, we hope that it will bring new opportunities for us. Of course, we hope luck will be on our side, but we understand that making our dreams reality primarily depends on us, on what we prioritise in our daily lives, on our ability to commit to our projects and achieve concrete, tangible results.”

Vladimir Putin (1952) President of Russia, former Prime Minister

2021

Dependency , Understanding , Dreams , Hope

“You have the power to change the world and your only fear should be wasting the opportunity while you have the time to wield it.”

Jay Samit (1961) American businessman

Future Proofing You (2021)

Time , World , Fear , Change

“Unfortunately, growing up with a zero-sum perspective is like a horse wearing blinders – it limits the field of view for opportunity.”

Jay Samit (1961) American businessman

Future Proofing You (2021)

Horse

“As the Pacific approaches the Cyclone Season, it is important to consider the fact that this is an important opportunity to further strengthen localise humanitarian action in the Pacific.”

Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa (1957) Samoan politician

Source: Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa (2021) cited in: " Shining a light on NZ's aid sector and its relationship with the Pacific https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/454383/shining-a-light-on-nz-s-aid-sector-and-its-relationship-with-the-pacific" in RNZ, 27 October 2021.

Season

“We need to continue the conversation with mutual respect, and aloha. We need to keep talking about this with our friends, our family members, our colleagues, so that when the opportunity does come for change, we'll be ready.”

Mike Gabbard (1948) Samoan American politician

Source: Ahead of March for Life, 2 Democratic State Lawmakers Discuss the Pro-Life Movement and the Theme of ‘Unity’ https://www.ncregister.com/news/ahead-of-march-for-life-2-democratic-state-lawmakers-discuss-the-pro-life-movement-and-the-theme-of-unity (29 January 2021)

Change , Family

“Work for the construction of a more just society, where there are job opportunities for all and fair wages, to avoid the temptation to get easy money. You have to raise your voice: we must not get used to living in a climate of violence, this leads to indifference.”

Miguel Ángel Alba Díaz (1951) Mexican Roman Catholic bishop

Source: Corrupt policemen and climate of mistrust, the Bishop of La Paz denounces the silence of the authorities http://fides.org/en/news/36508-AMERICA_MEXICO_Corrupt_policemen_and_climate_of_mistrust_the_Bishop_of_La_Paz_denounces_the_silence_of_the_authorities (9 October 2014)

Money , Indifference

“I want to create new educational and work opportunities for young professionals in our country. I want them to gain experience and to become educated and trained to be owners and managers of all sectors of our society. While, at this time, we must rely on foreign know-how in the oil and gas sectors, the ground must be readied now for young Guyanese to assume those positions, regardless of their race, color or creed.”

Irfaan Ali (1980) President of Guyana

Source: Irfaan Ali (2022) cited in: " President pledges more oil and gas scholarships https://www.stabroeknews.com/2022/01/01/news/guyana/president-pledges-more-oil-and-gas-scholarships/" in Stabroek News, 1 January 2022.

Training , Education , Time , Country

“My advice to women all the time is: If you want a certain future, go out and create it. Conquer your fears as that is what enslaves most women. Opportunities are now galore. We just need to roll up our sleeves, lift our feet, and walk through the door as no one will carry us.”

Divine Ndhlukula (1960) Zimbabwean businesswoman and farmer

Source: Lioness of Africa, 19 October 2017https://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/2017/10/19/quote-of-the-day-by-divine-ndhlukula

Fear , Time , Future , Women

“Opportunities will be equal. The procedures will be fair. The result will be just.”

Moon Jae-in (1953) President of South Korea

Inaugural address of the president of South Korea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOYaWLddRbU&feature=youtu.be&t=9m21s (2017)

“It is a private matter [sexuality], but if there are opportunities to say something . . . I wonder if, if it would be beneficial to someone else, that responsibility is on you. It’s complicated.”

Jonathan Bailey (1988) British actor

"Jonathan Bailey: From Broadchurch to the West End: the star of Sondheim’s smash hit Company in The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/from-broadchurch-to-the-west-end-the-star-of-sondheims-smash-hit-company-mjppfprkr (31 October 2018)

“America must offer meaningful opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation to empower those who have been incarcerated to become productive, law-abiding, members of society, and reduce crime and make our communities safer.”

Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)

FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Expands Second Chance Opportunities for Formerly Incarcerated Persons https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/26/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-expands-second-chance-opportunities-for-formerly-incarcerated-persons/
2022, April 2022

Law , Communication

“Will the right hon. Lady take the opportunity today and every day to make clear to the country, as only she can, that the courses that are being commended to her by the official Opposition and by many other voices mean nothing but a deliberate return to hyper-inflation?”

Enoch Powell (1912–1998) British politician

Question http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1980/jul/22/prime-minister-engagements#column_267 to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons (22 July 1980)
1980s

Country

“To the youngsters of today, I say believe in the future, the world is getting better; there still is plenty of opportunity. Why, would you believe it, when I was a kid I thought it was already too late for me to make good at anything.”

Walt Disney (1901–1966) American film producer and businessman

Year unknown, published in 2001, The Quotable Walt Disney (2001)

Future , World

“Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised. Usually it implies some risk — especially in new undertakings. Courage to initiate something and to keep it going, pioneering an adventurous spirit to blaze new ways, often, in our land of opportunity.”

Walt Disney (1901–1966) American film producer and businessman

As quoted in The Magic of Teamwork (1997) by Pat Williams
Year unknown, published in 1990s

Courage , Exercises , Way

“To be slow is to miss a present opportunity, whereas to be patient is to anticipate a coming opportunity.”

Witness Lee (1905–1997) Chinese Christian preacher

Character, of Witness Lee - By Living Stream Ministry, ISBN 978-0-87083-322-9

“Even while filming we knew how important it was that we get this opportunity to showcase our culture and our uniqueness, but also, as human beings, our stories, our emotions, and, at the end of the day, our humanity.”

Fala Chen (1982) Hong Kong actress

"Fala Chen Is Bringing Her Excellence to Hollywood" in Town & Country https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a37223279/fala-chen-jiang-li-shang-chi-marvel-interview/ (1 September 2021)

“[W]hen we invest in strengthening workers and the middle class, the poor have a ladder up, and those at the top do just fine. That’s how we can increase opportunity and decrease persistent inequity.”

Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)

2022, June 2022, Remarks by President Biden at the Inaugural Ceremony of the Ninth Summit of the Americas

“I joke that it took our family 100 years to travel one mile. But what a journey it has been. Our family story is the story of millions of families whose ancestors came to these shores from all around the world in search of freedom, opportunity, and equality.”

Gary Locke (1950) American politician

"Gary Locke keynotes anti-hate summit" in Northwest Asian Weekly https://nwasianweekly.com/2021/10/gary-locke-keynotes-anti-hate-summit/ (29 October 2021)

Search , Freedom , World , Family

Quotes about opportunity page 20

Quotes about opportunity
page 20