--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When lightning strikes you want to be…" description: "\"When lightning strikes you want to be there, right there in the room. You, not everybody's going to say yes to you. Just don't ever say no to yourself,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/chris-matthews-1682_lightning_when-lightning-strikes-you-want-to-be-th_206213.png" --- # When lightning strikes you want to be there, right there… ![“When lightning strikes you want to be there, right there in the room. You, not everybody's going to say yes to you. Just don't ever say no to yourself, ever.” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/chris-matthews-1682_lightning_when-lightning-strikes-you-want-to-be-th_206213.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/chris-matthews-1682_lightning_when-lightning-strikes-you-want-to-be-th_206213.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/chris-matthews-1682_lightning_when-lightning-strikes-you-want-to-be-th_206213.png) > “When lightning strikes you want to be there, right there in the room. You, not everybody's going to say yes to you. Just don't ever say no to yourself, ever.” [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seizing opportunities requires confidence and self‑approval; you must not deny yourself chances. **In simple terms:** Grab chances and don’t self‑reject. Key Takeaway Believe in your ability to act when opportunities arise. Themes confidence opportunity self‑belief Mood determined optimistic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - personal challenges Key Concepts risk‑taking personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What opportunity have you hesitated to take? - How do you balance confidence with realism? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) ## Related quotes > [A mere nothing suffices — and the lightning strikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-mere-nothing-suffices-and-the-lightning-strikes/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [When the lightning strikes but one, not one only does it terrify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/when-the-lightning-strikes-but-one-not-one-only-does-it-terrify/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“I? I am the wind,’ said Thowra. ‘I come, I pass, and I am gone.’ The strange feathers moved up and down, the strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyne-mitchell/i-i-am-the-wind-said-thowra-i-come-i-pass-and-i-am-gone-the-strange/) [Elyne Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyne-mitchell/) > [While I was living in New York a friend and I flew to Miami and travelled through a storm. I could see lightning strikes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-willis/while-i-was-living-in-new-york-a-friend-and-i-flew-to-miami-and/) [Emma Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-willis/) > [Censure is like the lightning which strikes the highest mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/censure-is-like-the-lightning-which-strikes-the-highest-mountains/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [“She won't come back here like that," Lee said weakly. "Lightning never strikes the same place twice, right?" Filo stopped in the doorway, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaye-thornbrugh/she-won-t-come-back-here-like-that-lee-said-weakly-lightning-never/) [Kaye Thornbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaye-thornbrugh/) > [“When lightning strikes at sea, why don't all the fish die?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/when-lightning-strikes-at-sea-why-don-t-all-the-fish-die/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [Why must we love where the lightning strikes, and not where we choose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/why-must-we-love-where-the-lightning-strikes-and-not-where-we-choose/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [“They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice. They lied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani-wendt-young/they-say-lightning-never-strikes-in-the-same-place-twice-they-lied/) [Lani Wendt Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lani-wendt-young/) > [If lightning strikes, Id cover my heart so when it hits me, Id fall happily knowing I protected you. Cause I spared the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-lightning-strikes-id-cover-my-heart-so-when-it-hits-me-id-fall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Since, during storms, flames leap from the humid vapors and dark clouds emit deafening noises, is it surprising the lightning, when it strikes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/since-during-storms-flames-leap-from-the-humid-vapors-and-dark-clouds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“I’m going to take that shower. Make yourself at home.” Right. In his room. No problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-going-to-take-that-shower-make-yourself-at-home-right-in-his-room/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're right. Everyone in this room with a pulse is starting to smell really good. Okay. Back in the box, better safe than sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-re-right-everyone-in-this-room-with-a-pulse-is-starting-to-smell/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“An average English house combines all the curses of civilisation with the vicissitudes of life in the open. It is all right to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/an-average-english-house-combines-all-the-curses-of-civilisation-with/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [I'm not really satisfied. I've done all right, but there's room for improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/i-m-not-really-satisfied-i-ve-done-all-right-but-there-s-room-for/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) ## More by Chris Matthews > [You don't know whether he's thought through how this is going to affect the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/you-don-t-know-whether-he-s-thought-through-how-this-is-going-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Natural-born American means you don't have to be naturalized. You were born to an American mother, like President Obama, no matter where you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/natural-born-american-means-you-don-t-have-to-be-naturalized-you-were/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I think that the candidates who are doing it \[not debating\] are doing a great disservice to the party. It's a sign of an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-think-that-the-candidates-who-are-doing-it-not-debating-are-doing-a/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [To become a saint in the Catholic Church, the normal procedure is, beatification, requiring one miracle in your name, then canonization, roughly in five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/to-become-a-saint-in-the-catholic-church-the-normal-procedure-is/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [The whole reason we organize grassroots is, we think any politician that gets elected needs to be held accountable 365 days a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/the-whole-reason-we-organize-grassroots-is-we-think-any-politician/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I don't sense an \[Barack\] Obama party. I think politics is transactional for him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-don-t-sense-an-barack-obama-party-i-think-politics-is-transactional/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [What happens to conservatives when they get near the White House? How come they only seem to be talking the good talk at, say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/what-happens-to-conservatives-when-they-get-near-the-white-house-how/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm closer to anybody who believes that we should lead not from behind, but from the front. Rand Paul is one step behind, leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-m-closer-to-anybody-who-believes-that-we-should-lead-not-from/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Let's not forget, Sarah Palin may not have a golden touch, but she gave Christine O'Donnell candidate a big touch that got her over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/let-s-not-forget-sarah-palin-may-not-have-a-golden-touch-but-she-gave/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Here's the Republican Party with round heels for anybody who says the right thing at the current moment. Regardless of their record, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/here-s-the-republican-party-with-round-heels-for-anybody-who-says-the/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Sarah Palin is an empty vessel ready to be filled by ideology that she doesn't even understand, and that is really scary. Nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/sarah-palin-is-an-empty-vessel-ready-to-be-filled-by-ideology-that/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [“Earlier that year, at the hundredth anniversary of his Harvard club, a member was talking about the spirit of Harvard College and saying how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/earlier-that-year-at-the-hundredth-anniversary-of-his-harvard-club-a/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I think we all \[americans\] think we're a special country. But the question is, what - what call does that give us? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-think-we-all-americans-think-we-re-a-special-country-but-the/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm not just gonna go after the black Jesse Jackson they all want to make fun of, but I know the wrong people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-m-not-just-gonna-go-after-the-black-jesse-jackson-they-all-want-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Being a little older is not going to win election. Being a little younger might, especially if the older candidates, Hillary Clinton included, can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/being-a-little-older-is-not-going-to-win-election-being-a-little/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) [Explore all 213 Chris Matthews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) ## More Lightning quotes > [ “Even when lightning flashes inside them \[clouds\], we say they are only clouds and turn our attention to the next meal, next pain, next… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-sheldon/even-when-lightning-flashes-inside-them-clouds-we-say-they-are-only/) [Sidney Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-sheldon/) > [I really got struck by lightning when it came to my decision to leave WWE. If I literally think about that day and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-rhodes/i-really-got-struck-by-lightning-when-it-came-to-my-decision-to-leave/) [Cody Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-rhodes/) > [I have been much amused at ye singular phenomena resulting from bringing of a needle into contact with a piece of amber or resin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-have-been-much-amused-at-ye-singular-phenomena-resulting-from/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [There was a wild light in his eyes. "Bring your lightnings, Aes Sedai. I will dance with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/there-was-a-wild-light-in-his-eyes-bring-your-lightnings-aes-sedai-i/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [A mere nothing suffices — and the lightning strikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-mere-nothing-suffices-and-the-lightning-strikes/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [We always expect tremendous criticism. It is my role to be the lightning rod ... to attract the attacks against the organization for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-always-expect-tremendous-criticism-it-is-my-role-to-be-the/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [“There was lightning behind Mr. Sayre's eyes, and it was looking for a place to strike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-r-mccammon/there-was-lightning-behind-mr-sayre-s-eyes-and-it-was-looking-for-a/) [Robert R. McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-r-mccammon/) > [“Attacking a lightning rod doesn't make you lightning..." Regarding Barack Obama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rafael-cimino/attacking-a-lightning-rod-doesn-t-make-you-lightning-regarding-barack/) [T. Rafael Cimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rafael-cimino/) > [People are saying that Anderson Cooper could be the new Oprah. And then these people are struck by lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-are-saying-that-anderson-cooper-could-be-the-new-oprah-and/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [If fate is a shape-shifter, then loves is too. It can be, anyway, in its most dangerous form. It´s your best day and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/if-fate-is-a-shape-shifter-then-loves-is-too-it-can-be-anyway-in-its/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [Loud o'er my head though awful thunders roll, And vivid lightnings flash from pole to pole, Yet 'tis Thy voice, my God, that bids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/loud-o-er-my-head-though-awful-thunders-roll-and-vivid-lightnings/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Never insult a mans beard, you either get thunder or lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/si-robertson/never-insult-a-mans-beard-you-either-get-thunder-or-lightning/) [Si Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/si-robertson/) > [Towers in a modern town are a frill and a survival; they seem like the raised hands of the various churches, afraid of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/towers-in-a-modern-town-are-a-frill-and-a-survival-they-seem-like-the/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [You know, you might not think that Wigglytuff can, like, throw a thunder or lightning-type move at you. But, oh, just you watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/you-know-you-might-not-think-that-wigglytuff-can-like-throw-a-thunder/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) [Browse all 937 Lightning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When lightning strikes you want to be there, right there in the room. You, not everybody's going to say yes to you. 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