---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When opportunity knocks, you don't leave…"
description: "\"“When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate cake. That's”\" — Carolyn Brown"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/carolyn-brown-13452_chocolate-cake_when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave_2652129.jpg"
---

#  When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on…

![“When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate cake. That's” quote by Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/carolyn-brown-13452_chocolate-cake_when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave_2652129.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/carolyn-brown-13452_chocolate-cake_when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave_2652129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/carolyn-brown-13452_chocolate-cake_when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave_2652129.jpg)

> ““When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate cake. That's””

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

## About This Quote

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

She likens seizing opportunity to inviting it in and treating it well.

**In simple terms:** Invite opportunity and nurture it.

Key Takeaway

Actively welcome and develop chances.

Themes

opportunity initiative growth

Mood

optimistic cautious

Type

motivational analytical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- entrepreneurship
- personal projects

Key Concepts

psychology self‑development

Questions to Reflect On

- What risks do you take when seizing opportunities?
- How do you decide which opportunities to nurture?

A Different Perspective

Opportunities may not always be beneficial.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chocolate cake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chocolate-cake/) [Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door/) [Doorstep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doorstep/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity knocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-knocks/) [Standing Doorstep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-doorstep-917780/)

## Related quotes

> [“When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate cake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave-it-standing-on-the-doorstep/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [There's this perception that there's a pipeline problem for women and people of color. I don't buy into that. I think we have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/there-s-this-perception-that-there-s-a-pipeline-problem-for-women-and/)

[Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/)

> [Opportunity knocks at any time in life and everybody should answer that door when it does. Go for it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-redman/opportunity-knocks-at-any-time-in-life-and-everybody-should-answer/)

[Amanda Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-redman/)

> [“What's knocking on your door...opportunities to succeed or opportunities to fail? Times may get tough, life may not be fair, but never allow fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/what-s-knocking-on-your-door-opportunities-to-succeed-or/)

[Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/)

> [“You have no choice. You must leave your ego on the doorstep before you enter love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/you-have-no-choice-you-must-leave-your-ego-on-the-doorstep-before-you/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/sometimes-opportunity-knocks-but-most-of-the-time-it-sneaks-up-and/)

[Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/)

> [If you never heard opportunity knock, maybe you're never at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/if-you-never-heard-opportunity-knock-maybe-you-re-never-at-home/)

[Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/)

> [I used to go to auditions, mainly for talent competitions like 'Opportunity Knocks.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-stephenson/i-used-to-go-to-auditions-mainly-for-talent-competitions-like/)

[Debra Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-stephenson/)

> [“Opportunity knocks but some people are too busy watching TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/opportunity-knocks-but-some-people-are-too-busy-watching-tv/)

[Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/)

> [Opportunity knocks once at every man's door and then keeps on knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/opportunity-knocks-once-at-every-man-s-door-and-then-keeps-on-knocking/)

[George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/)

> [Some say opportunity knocks only once, that is not true. Opportunity knocks all the time, but you have to be ready for it. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/some-say-opportunity-knocks-only-once-that-is-not-true-opportunity/)

[Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/)

> [“Don't just dream of success; create a plan and act upon it! Your momentum creates the door upon which opportunity knocks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/don-t-just-dream-of-success-create-a-plan-and-act-upon-it-your/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [Opportunity never knocks. It hangs thick in the air all around you. You breathe it unthinking, and dissipate it with your sighs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-h-williams/opportunity-never-knocks-it-hangs-thick-in-the-air-all-around-you-you/)

[Roy H. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-h-williams/)

> [“Stepping outside your comfort zone isn’t a walk in the park, but the treasures that await you are like paths paved with gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/stepping-outside-your-comfort-zone-isn-t-a-walk-in-the-park-but-the/)

[Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/)

> [A pessimist is somebody who complains about the noise when opportunity knocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-pessimist-is-somebody-who-complains-about-the-noise-when/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

## More by Carolyn Brown

> [“My grandmother taught me to read before I went to school. I was reading the newspaper when I was five. And Grandpa taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/my-grandmother-taught-me-to-read-before-i-went-to-school-i-was/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“He covered a yawn with the back of his hand. “The sofa was better than my bedroom, but I did consider going out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/he-covered-a-yawn-with-the-back-of-his-hand-the-sofa-was-better-than/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“The time to fix something is when it’s first broken, not when it’s shattered in so many pieces that there’s not enough glue in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/the-time-to-fix-something-is-when-it-s-first-broken-not-when-it-s/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“They didn't want to get too close to the crazy woman, since scientists hadn't yet proved whether crazy, like stupid, is inherited or contagious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/they-didn-t-want-to-get-too-close-to-the-crazy-woman-since-scientists/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“I had two choices. I could be bitter, or I could get on with life...Mine had been made...I wasn't going to be bitter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/i-had-two-choices-i-could-be-bitter-or-i-could-get-on-with-life-mine/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“I love you to the moon and back.” Gracie grinned. “Well, I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/i-love-you-to-the-moon-and-back-gracie-grinned-well-i-love-you-a/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“She gathered her quilt around her body and went inside, made her way gingerly around furniture to the living room, and curled up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/she-gathered-her-quilt-around-her-body-and-went-inside-made-her-way/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“It’s this thing between us. The thing that we’ve been sidestepping all around rather than talking about it.” “Kind of hard to talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/it-s-this-thing-between-us-the-thing-that-we-ve-been-sidestepping-all/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“Don't worry about tomorrow or let the past ruin today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/don-t-worry-about-tomorrow-or-let-the-past-ruin-today/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“Whoa, cowboy! I don't have phone sex on the first phone call.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/whoa-cowboy-i-don-t-have-phone-sex-on-the-first-phone-call/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate cake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave-it-standing-on-the-doorstep/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“Lily slid across the seat, wrapped her arms”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/lily-slid-across-the-seat-wrapped-her-arms/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“than this landline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/than-this-landline/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“received through the years. But Harriet had passed on the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/received-through-the-years-but-harriet-had-passed-on-the/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

> [“Men are so frustrating; sometimes I think they really do come from Mars. That's the planet where they take boy babies' souls at birth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/men-are-so-frustrating-sometimes-i-think-they-really-do-come-from/)

[Carolyn Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

[Explore all 49 Carolyn Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/)

## More Chocolate cake quotes

> [Happy Birthday To Me,I just turned twenty three(23),I want a new Puppy, And I'll name it Julie:) Chocolate cake anyone all I have leftover,,,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/happy-birthday-to-me-i-just-turned-twenty-three-23-i-want-a-new-puppy/)

[Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/)

> [“What did you do?" said Charles. "You know that night all our shoes went into the hall," said Nirupam. "Well, we had a feast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/what-did-you-do-said-charles-you-know-that-night-all-our-shoes-went/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [Resisting a beautiful chocolate cake or a wonderful foie gras is as difficult as (the idea of) saying no to Paul Newman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/resisting-a-beautiful-chocolate-cake-or-a-wonderful-foie-gras-is-as/)

[Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/)

> [“The little things we value as mundane or pithy usually turn into the big things in hindsight…an “I love you” called out as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/the-little-things-we-value-as-mundane-or-pithy-usually-turn-into-the/)

[Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/)

> [It's fine to eat dessert when I want to eat dessert because that will give me the peace of mind I need. I'll know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-mendes/it-s-fine-to-eat-dessert-when-i-want-to-eat-dessert-because-that-will/)

[Camila Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-mendes/)

> [“Is that … chocolate cake?” “I thought you might need some.” “Need, not want?” A ghost of a smile was on her lips, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/is-that-chocolate-cake-i-thought-you-might-need-some-need-not-want-a/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [ “Welcome to Classic Chocolate Cake.    \[Prep Time: 10 minutes / Cook Time: 35-40 minutes\] No baking recipe book, Paleo or otherwise, would be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-roberts/welcome-to-classic-chocolate-cake-prep-time-10-minutes-cook-time-35/)

[Jack Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-roberts/)

> [“The mood at the table is convivial throughout the meal. A dried-sausage and prosciutto plate gives way to briny sardines, which give way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-rosen/the-mood-at-the-table-is-convivial-throughout-the-meal-a-dried/)

[Ali Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-rosen/)

> [“There is nothing, she would think, more delicious that the icing of bought chocolate cake, eaten in the silence and privacy of the night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/there-is-nothing-she-would-think-more-delicious-that-the-icing-of/)

[Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/)

> [“Grace and chocolate cake can cover a world of awkwardness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jo-baker/grace-and-chocolate-cake-can-cover-a-world-of-awkwardness/)

[Lisa-Jo Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jo-baker/)

> [“The images swirled through her. She needed to bake. Cake. A layered chocolate cake. With vanilla buttercream frosting. The images were as clear as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-francis-lee/the-images-swirled-through-her-she-needed-to-bake-cake-a-layered/)

[Linda Francis Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-francis-lee/)

> [“It’s quite simple, really. Someone offers me chocolate cake or donuts or something, I kind of black out, then come to and I’m covered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ophelia-london/it-s-quite-simple-really-someone-offers-me-chocolate-cake-or-donuts/)

[Ophelia London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ophelia-london/)

> [Art without emotion is like chocolate cake without sugar, it makes you gag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/art-without-emotion-is-like-chocolate-cake-without-sugar-it-makes-you/)

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

> [“He’s like that one extra slice of chocolate cake, another drink when you know you’ve already had too much, a hit—just a small bump,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-waltz/he-s-like-that-one-extra-slice-of-chocolate-cake-another-drink-when/)

[Vanessa Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-waltz/)

> [“Kissing Jack was dangerous, like drowning in something that tasted good. He was like the artery-clogging chocolate cake she couldn’t resist, heaven in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-usen/kissing-jack-was-dangerous-like-drowning-in-something-that-tasted/)

[Amanda Usen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-usen/)

[Browse all 141 Chocolate cake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chocolate-cake/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate cake. That's”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carolyn Brown"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave-it-standing-on-the-doorstep-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chocolate cake"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave-it-standing-on-the-doorstep-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/carolyn-brown-13452_chocolate-cake_when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave_2652129.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/carolyn-brown-13452_chocolate-cake_when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave_2652129.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/carolyn-brown-13452_chocolate-cake_when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave_2652129.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When opportunity knocks, you don't leave it standing on the doorstep. You invite it in and feed it chocolate…” — Carolyn Brown",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Carolyn Brown",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-brown/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“When opportunity knocks, you don't leave...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave-it-standing-on-the-doorstep-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-brown/when-opportunity-knocks-you-don-t-leave-it-standing-on-the-doorstep-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
