Opportunity

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.

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 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.

Seek not for fresher founts afar,
Just drop your bucket where you are;
And while the ship read more

Seek not for fresher founts afar,
Just drop your bucket where you are;
And while the ship right onward leaps,
Uplift it from the exhaustless deeps.
Parch not your life with dry despair;
The stream of hope flow everywhere--
So under every sky and star,
Just drop your bucket where you are.

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.

Holding occasion by the hand,
Not over nice 'twixt weed and flower,
Waiving what none can understand,
read more

Holding occasion by the hand,
Not over nice 'twixt weed and flower,
Waiving what none can understand,
I make mine hour.

Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
read more

Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.

Who lets slip fortune, her shall never find:
Occasion once past by, is bald behind.

Who lets slip fortune, her shall never find:
Occasion once past by, is bald behind.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in
overalls and looks like work.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in
overalls and looks like work.

"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.