I beseech you not to blame me if I be desirous to strike while
the iron is hot.

I beseech you not to blame me if I be desirous to strike while
the iron is hot.

"Oh, ship ahoy!" rang out the cry;
"Oh, give us water or we die!"
A voice came read more

"Oh, ship ahoy!" rang out the cry;
"Oh, give us water or we die!"
A voice came o'er the waters far,
"Just drop your bucket where you are."
And then they dipped and drank their fill
Of water fresh from mead and hill;
And then they knew they sailed upon
The broad mouth of the Amazon.

There is a nick in Fortune's restless wheel
For each man's good.

There is a nick in Fortune's restless wheel
For each man's good.

Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have read more

Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand.

If the wind is against you then start sailing against it because the wind may never change in your favor.

If the wind is against you then start sailing against it because the wind may never change in your favor.

The man who grasps an opportunity as it is paraded before him, nine times out of ten makes a success, read more

The man who grasps an opportunity as it is paraded before him, nine times out of ten makes a success, but the man who makes his own opportunities is, barring an accident, a sure-fire success

Yet he who grasps the moment's gift,
He is the proper man.
[Ger., Der den Augenblick ergreift,
read more

Yet he who grasps the moment's gift,
He is the proper man.
[Ger., Der den Augenblick ergreift,
Das ist der rechte Mann.]

I knock unbidden once at every gate--
If sleeping, wake--if feasting, rise before
I turn away--it is read more

I knock unbidden once at every gate--
If sleeping, wake--if feasting, rise before
I turn away--it is the hour of fate,
And they who follow me reach every state
Mortals desire, and conquer every foe
Save death, but those who doubt of hesitate,
Condemned to failure, penury and woe,
Seek me in vain and uselessly implore,
I answer not, and I return no more.

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make read more

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.