--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What people call serendipity sometimes is…" description: "\"What people call serendipity sometimes is just having your eyes open,\" — Jose Manuel Barroso" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/jose-manuel-barroso-15898_eye_what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-i_3188270.png" --- # What people call serendipity sometimes is just having your… ![“What people call serendipity sometimes is just having your eyes open,” quote by Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/jose-manuel-barroso-15898_eye_what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-i_3188270.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/jose-manuel-barroso-15898_eye_what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-i_3188270.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/jose-manuel-barroso-15898_eye_what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-i_3188270.png) > “What people call serendipity sometimes is just having your eyes open,” [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serendipity often results from active awareness, not luck. **In simple terms:** Being observant creates chance opportunities. Key Takeaway Stay alert and open. Themes awareness opportunity serendipity Mood inspirational pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - networking events - research labs - creative brainstorming - travel experiences Key Concepts cognitive psychology chance mindset Questions to Reflect On - How do you train observation? - What habits reveal hidden chances? A Different Perspective Chance alone cannot replace preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-open/) [Having Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-eyes-1541426/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-serendipity-5870755/) [Serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serendipity/) [Serendipity Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serendipity-just-4587393/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) ## Related quotes > [I spend 90% of my time with people who don't report to me, which also allows for serendipity, since I'm walking around the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-spend-90-of-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-report-to-me-which-also/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [Sometimes serendipity is just intention unmasked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/sometimes-serendipity-is-just-intention-unmasked/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [The greatest gift to my eyesight is having my eyes set on you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-gift-to-my-eyesight-is-having-my-eyes-set-on-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Having all eyes on me at all times is hard to deal with, but it's great. It feels like you've already accomplished something. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-white/having-all-eyes-on-me-at-all-times-is-hard-to-deal-with-but-it-s/) [Shaun White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-white/) > [“Down through the ages and in the whole world, Watt and Newton cannot have been the only ones to notice the steam from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tetsuko-kuroyanagi/down-through-the-ages-and-in-the-whole-world-watt-and-newton-cannot/) [Tetsuko Kuroyanagi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tetsuko-kuroyanagi/) > [I like it here in New York. I like the idea of having to keep eyes in the back of your head all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-like-it-here-in-new-york-i-like-the-idea-of-having-to-keep-eyes-in/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [Some people like having eyes upon them and I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/some-people-like-having-eyes-upon-them-and-i-don-t/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Having one's eyes opened doesn't make one grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bear/having-one-s-eyes-opened-doesn-t-make-one-grateful/) [Greg Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bear/) > [ \[Reformers\] might be classified as a distinct species having eyes in the back of their heads. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/reformers-might-be-classified-as-a-distinct-species-having-eyes-in/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [The aim of having EYES MOUTH BRAIN HANDS LEGS. Is When u VISIONALISE, u SPEAK of it and when u speak u THINK toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-freeman/the-aim-of-having-eyes-mouth-brain-hands-legs-is-when-u-visionalise-u/) [Franklin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-freeman/) > [Work hard, not in grunt work, but in chasing such opportunities and maximizing exposure to them. This makes living in big cities invaluable because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/work-hard-not-in-grunt-work-but-in-chasing-such-opportunities-and/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Thinking there had to be a better way was a brilliant stroke of serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/thinking-there-had-to-be-a-better-way-was-a-brilliant-stroke-of/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Serendipity, you can choose who to protect and who to share life with, but you cannot choose who to love, for love isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/serendipity-you-can-choose-who-to-protect-and-who-to-share-life-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ Serendipity awakens the dutiful wife to personal growth when a transformational opportunity comes her way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-harlan/serendipity-awakens-the-dutiful-wife-to-personal-growth-when-a/) [Jean Harlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-harlan/) > [“They happen only when you are distant,aloof. They happen, they cannot be brought. They happen you cannot force them to happen. They are spontaneous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/they-happen-only-when-you-are-distant-aloof-they-happen-they-cannot/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) ## More by Jose Manuel Barroso > [I believe that Europe without Britain at the heart will be less reform-driven, less open, less international Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/i-believe-that-europe-without-britain-at-the-heart-will-be-less/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [Decisions taken by the most democratic institutions in the world are very often wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/decisions-taken-by-the-most-democratic-institutions-in-the-world-are/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [Norway or Switzerland are two marvelous countries, I very much admire, the most advanced countries in the world in fact with great qualities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/norway-or-switzerland-are-two-marvelous-countries-i-very-much-admire/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [We need open, competitive, market economies... but at the same time with effective regulation and supervision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/we-need-open-competitive-market-economies-but-at-the-same-time-with/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [Usually I don't comment on comments of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/usually-i-don-t-comment-on-comments-of-others/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [In the age of globalisation, pooled sovereignty means more power, not less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/in-the-age-of-globalisation-pooled-sovereignty-means-more-power-not/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [You see in times of crisis that extremist forces, populist forces, have a better ground to oversimplify things and to manipulate feelings. Feelings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/you-see-in-times-of-crisis-that-extremist-forces-populist-forces-have/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [At least in Europe, we consider the right to privacy a fundamental right and it is a very serious matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/at-least-in-europe-we-consider-the-right-to-privacy-a-fundamental/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [Internal protectionism in Europe would be deadly, really a disaster for European economies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/internal-protectionism-in-europe-would-be-deadly-really-a-disaster/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [I say to my friends, 'Don't just listen to the vuvuzelas; look at who scores the goals.' And this is the important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/i-say-to-my-friends-don-t-just-listen-to-the-vuvuzelas-look-at-who/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [The E.U. is founded on the Treaties which apply only to the Member States who have agreed and ratified them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/the-e-u-is-founded-on-the-treaties-which-apply-only-to-the-member/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [Smart, sustainable, inclusive growth is the key to job-creation and the future prosperity of Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/smart-sustainable-inclusive-growth-is-the-key-to-job-creation-and-the/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [The new narrative for Europe should be about the need to have a responsible organisation, the need to be able to defend our interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/the-new-narrative-for-europe-should-be-about-the-need-to-have-a/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [Even when governments take the right steps to reform, these can be negatively impacted by events outside their control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/even-when-governments-take-the-right-steps-to-reform-these-can-be/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [I have full confidence in the IMF. It is a very strong international institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/i-have-full-confidence-in-the-imf-it-is-a-very-strong-international/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) [Explore all 41 Jose Manuel Barroso quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) ## More Eye quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What people call serendipity sometimes is just having your eyes open,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jose Manuel Barroso" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-is-just-having-your-eyes-open/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eye" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-is-just-having-your-eyes-open/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/jose-manuel-barroso-15898_eye_what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-i_3188270.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/jose-manuel-barroso-15898_eye_what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-i_3188270.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/jose-manuel-barroso-15898_eye_what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-i_3188270.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What people call serendipity sometimes is just having your eyes open,” — Jose Manuel Barroso", "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": "Jose Manuel Barroso", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What people call serendipity sometimes is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-is-just-having-your-eyes-open/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/what-people-call-serendipity-sometimes-is-just-having-your-eyes-open/#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 } } ] } ```