---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ability is of little account without…"
description: "\"Ability is of little account without opportunity.\" — Anonymous"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/anonymous-1_ability_ability-is-of-little-account-without-opp_1570062.jpg"
---

#  Ability is of little account without opportunity.

![“Ability is of little account without opportunity.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/anonymous-1_ability_ability-is-of-little-account-without-opp_1570062.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/anonymous-1_ability_ability-is-of-little-account-without-opp_1570062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/anonymous-1_ability_ability-is-of-little-account-without-opp_1570062.jpg)

> “Ability is of little account without opportunity.”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Talent alone is insufficient; success depends on having chances to apply it.

**In simple terms:** Talent needs chance to shine.

Key Takeaway

Seek or create opportunities.

Themes

talent opportunity success

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- education
- entrepreneurship
- networking

Key Concepts

meritocracy social mobility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you expand your chances?
- What barriers prevent equal opportunity?

A Different Perspective

Opportunities are often unevenly distributed, limiting fairness.

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[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/)

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Amazon

> [General Napoleon says that ability is of little account without opportunity. The opposite is also correct: Opportunity is of little account without ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/general-napoleon-says-that-ability-is-of-little-account-without/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [If you will be guided by me, you will make little account of Socrates, and much more of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-you-will-be-guided-by-me-you-will-make-little-account-of-socrates/)

[Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/)

> [Ability is of little account without opportunity. I have very rarely met with two o'clock in the morning courage: I mean instantaneous courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/ability-is-of-little-account-without-opportunity-i-have-very-rarely/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [The man without a savings account usually is a man of little account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-man-without-a-savings-account-usually-is-a-man-of-little-account/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Nature creates ability; luck provides it with opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nature-creates-ability-luck-provides-it-with-opportunity/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's never too late to take a step in the right direction. It's never to late to become the person you are capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-never-too-late-to-take-a-step-in-the-right-direction-it-s-never/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put yourself in a state of mind where you say to yourself, 'Here is an opportunity for me to celebrate like never before, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-yourself-in-a-state-of-mind-where-you-say-to-yourself-here-is-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Never hold back in life, because you may never get another chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-hold-back-in-life-because-you-may-never-get-another-chance/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-live-your-life-with-an-appreciation-of-coincidences-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Everyone knows it is bad luck to step on a toad or on the shadow of a tree, to walk under a ladder,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-knows-it-is-bad-luck-to-step-on-a-toad-or-on-the-shadow-of-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life Gets Risky Sometimes But You Gotta Take Chances, Life's A Game You Gotta Risk It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-gets-risky-sometimes-but-you-gotta-take-chances-life-s-a-game/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Do you believe in luck, Ludlow?" I had thought about this more than once in my life. "I believe some poeple are luckier than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-believe-in-luck-ludlow-i-had-thought-about-this-more-than-once/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not asking for forever, I'm asking for a chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-asking-for-forever-i-m-asking-for-a-chance/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

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> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

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> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

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> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

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