--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't sit down and wait for the…" description: "\"Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.\" — Madam C. J. Walker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/madam-c-j-walker-18546_come_don-t-sit-down-and-wait-for-the-opportun_585565.png" --- # Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get… ![“Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” quote by Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/madam-c-j-walker-18546_come_don-t-sit-down-and-wait-for-the-opportun_585565.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/madam-c-j-walker-18546_come_don-t-sit-down-and-wait-for-the-opportun_585565.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/madam-c-j-walker-18546_come_don-t-sit-down-and-wait-for-the-opportun_585565.png) > “Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Waiting passively yields few results; proactive effort creates opportunities. **In simple terms:** Take action instead of waiting. Key Takeaway Act now, create chances. Themes initiative empowerment self‑reliance Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - starting a business - personal development - community leadership Key Concepts entrepreneurship agency goal‑setting Questions to Reflect On - What opportunity can you create today? - How can you overcome fear of failure? A Different Perspective Success also depends on resources and timing, not just effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities/) ## Related quotes > [Dont sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-walker/dont-sit-down-and-wait-for-the-opportunities-to-come-get-up-and-make/) CJ Walker > [Don't sit around and wait for the opportunities to come. You have to get up and make those opportunities come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lelia-bundles/don-t-sit-around-and-wait-for-the-opportunities-to-come-you-have-to/) [A'Lelia Bundles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lelia-bundles/) > [I usually wait for opportunities and act on them if I like them or I like to really think through any new ideas I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/i-usually-wait-for-opportunities-and-act-on-them-if-i-like-them-or-i/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [I am not merely satisfied in making money for myself, for I am endeavoring to provide employment for hundreds of women of my race.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-am-not-merely-satisfied-in-making-money-for-myself-for-i-am/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [You have to pay people what he's worth, especially a guy that's willing to sit down and wait for what he's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-kamara/you-have-to-pay-people-what-he-s-worth-especially-a-guy-that-s/) [Alvin Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-kamara/) > [Prepare for opportunities, don't wait for opportunities to take you by surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-emmanuel/prepare-for-opportunities-don-t-wait-for-opportunities-to-take-you-by/) Daniel Emmanuel > [I'm the kind of person who doesn't wait for opportunities to fall from the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinashe/i-m-the-kind-of-person-who-doesn-t-wait-for-opportunities-to-fall/) [Tinashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinashe/) > [Do not wait for Opportunities, they may never show up. Go out in search of one and you are sure to find many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ore-abayomi/do-not-wait-for-opportunities-they-may-never-show-up-go-out-in-search/) [Ore Abayomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ore-abayomi/) > [If you wait for opportunities to occur, you will be one of the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/if-you-wait-for-opportunities-to-occur-you-will-be-one-of-the-crowd/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Sometimes you have to wait for opportunities, but most times you have to create them for yourself. If you're waiting for an opportunity, make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-wait-for-opportunities-but-most-times-you-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Opportunities will often come at the unlikeliest of times. Sometimes they're because of instant connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-landry/opportunities-will-often-come-at-the-unlikeliest-of-times-sometimes/) [Jason Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-landry/) > [It is important always to make full use of opportunities that come your way, and at the same time, it is important to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kochhar/it-is-important-always-to-make-full-use-of-opportunities-that-come/) [Chanda Kochhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kochhar/) > [I know opportunities will come my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-rahul/i-know-opportunities-will-come-my-way/) [K. L. Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-l-rahul/) > [I've never made a plan for my life. I have just taken whatever opportunities have come and been very genuine with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/i-ve-never-made-a-plan-for-my-life-i-have-just-taken-whatever/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) ## More by Madam C. J. Walker > [In a dream, a big black man appeared to me and told me what to mix up for my hair. I made up my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/in-a-dream-a-big-black-man-appeared-to-me-and-told-me-what-to-mix-up/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I am not merely satisfied in making money for myself, for I am endeavoring to provide employment for hundreds of women of my race.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-am-not-merely-satisfied-in-making-money-for-myself-for-i-am/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [The girls and women of our race must not be afraid to take hold of business endeavor and, by patient industry, close economy, determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/the-girls-and-women-of-our-race-must-not-be-afraid-to-take-hold-of/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-am-a-woman-who-came-from-the-cotton-fields-of-the-south-from-there/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [IT'S PRETTY HARD for the Lord TO GUIDE YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE UP YOUR MIND WHICH WAY TO GO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/it-s-pretty-hard-for-the-lord-to-guide-you-if-you-haven-t-made-up/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [There is no royal flower strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for whatever success I have attained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/there-is-no-royal-flower-strewn-path-to-success-and-if-there-is-i/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [One night I had a dream, and in that dream a big black man appeared to me and told me what to mix up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/one-night-i-had-a-dream-and-in-that-dream-a-big-black-man-appeared-to/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [You might say that I was the first and caused others to awaken to the sense of their duty in helping deserving causes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/you-might-say-that-i-was-the-first-and-caused-others-to-awaken-to-the/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I have made it possible for many colored women to abandon the washtub for a more pleasant and profitable occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-have-made-it-possible-for-many-colored-women-to-abandon-the-washtub/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I have always held myself out as a hair culturist. I grow hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-have-always-held-myself-out-as-a-hair-culturist-i-grow-hair/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [As I bent over the washboard and looked at my arms buried in soapsuds, I said to myself, 'What are you going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/as-i-bent-over-the-washboard-and-looked-at-my-arms-buried-in-soapsuds/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I have built my own factory on my own ground, 38 by 208 feet. I employ in that factory seven people, including a bookkeeper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-have-built-my-own-factory-on-my-own-ground-38-by-208-feet-i-employ/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I want the great masses of my people to take a greater pride in their personal appearance and to give their hair proper attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-want-the-great-masses-of-my-people-to-take-a-greater-pride-in-their/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [Perseverance is my motto!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/perseverance-is-my-motto/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I had little or no opportunity when I started out in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-had-little-or-no-opportunity-when-i-started-out-in-life/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) [Explore all 34 Madam C. J. Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) ## More Come quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Mihir is one of the most secure men that I have ever come across in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/mihir-is-one-of-the-most-secure-men-that-i-have-ever-come-across-in/) [Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/) > [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/) > [We'd always come into Syracuse for the Empire State Games and the stair fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/we-d-always-come-into-syracuse-for-the-empire-state-games-and-the/) [Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“More we know, more we come know that how less we know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souvik-khamrui/more-we-know-more-we-come-know-that-how-less-we-know/) Souvik Khamrui > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My preference is for people who come to rehearsal and get into the ring. I like a muscular actor who's playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/my-preference-is-for-people-who-come-to-rehearsal-and-get-into-the/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) Browse all 13,032 Come quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Madam C. J. 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