---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So often, you don't get that opportunity…"
description: "\"So often, you don't get that opportunity. You only go over everything once and, the next thing you know, you're on set.\" — Queen Latifah"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/queen-latifah-1560_knows_so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity_3195216.jpg"
---

#  So often, you don't get that opportunity. You only go over…

![“So often, you don't get that opportunity. You only go over everything once and, the next thing you know, you're on set.” quote by Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/queen-latifah-1560_knows_so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity_3195216.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/queen-latifah-1560_knows_so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity_3195216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/queen-latifah-1560_knows_so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity_3195216.jpg)

> “So often, you don't get that opportunity. You only go over everything once and, the next thing you know, you're on set.”

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

## About This Quote

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

Opportunities often arise unexpectedly; once they appear, you must act quickly before they disappear.

**In simple terms:** Seize chances when they come, because they’re fleeting.

Key Takeaway

Act promptly when opportunity appears.

Themes

career timing decisiveness

Mood

motivational pragmatic

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- job offers
- creative projects
- networking events

Key Concepts

chance urgency momentum

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you prepare now for sudden opportunities?
- How do you balance readiness with thoughtful planning?

A Different Perspective

The advice assumes you have the resources to act instantly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/)

## Related quotes

> [My feeling is, having lived in different classes, that people want equality of opportunity... that's the thing that makes me despair: the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/my-feeling-is-having-lived-in-different-classes-that-people-want/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [You know you can set fire to the capacity to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-know-you-can-set-fire-to-the-capacity-to-say/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Acting is all I know; being on a set is all I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-posey/acting-is-all-i-know-being-on-a-set-is-all-i-know/)

[Tyler Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-posey/)

> [Do you know what it's all about. Are you brave enough to figure out? Know that you could set your world on fire. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/do-you-know-what-it-s-all-about-are-you-brave-enough-to-figure-out/)

[Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/)

> [What if opportunity comes and you aren't prepared? If you don't prepare yourself for opportunity, one thing is certain, you won't win even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-sylver/what-if-opportunity-comes-and-you-aren-t-prepared-if-you-don-t/)

[Marshall Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-sylver/)

> [Providing opportunity is one thing, but taking opportunity is another. Having it in front of you is a hard thing, but taking it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/providing-opportunity-is-one-thing-but-taking-opportunity-is-another/)

[Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/)

> [Opportunity shies away from need, but opportunity is attracted by talent and ability. What you don't want to happen is opportunity to turn cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/opportunity-shies-away-from-need-but-opportunity-is-attracted-by/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [Getting an opportunity is one thing, but success is based on always trying to create value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-france/getting-an-opportunity-is-one-thing-but-success-is-based-on-always/)

[Brian France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-france/)

> [If it's one thing I know well is how to get my grind on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/if-it-s-one-thing-i-know-well-is-how-to-get-my-grind-on/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [The only thing to know is how to use your neurosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-adamov/the-only-thing-to-know-is-how-to-use-your-neurosis/)

[Arthur Adamov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-adamov/)

> [The important thing is not to know more than all men, but to know more at each moment than any particular man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-more-than-all-men-but-to-know-more/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [No matter what you study, the thing that you know best is what you grew up with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/no-matter-what-you-study-the-thing-that-you-know-best-is-what-you/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [If there's one thing I know, it's men. I ought to. It's been my life's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-dressler/if-there-s-one-thing-i-know-it-s-men-i-ought-to-it-s-been-my-life-s/)

[Marie Dressler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-dressler/)

> [“But one thing I do know, you don't screw with crazy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-nacole/but-one-thing-i-do-know-you-don-t-screw-with-crazy/)

[Brandy Nacole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-nacole/)

> [The only thing that I know is, 'Who's the target, who's the best? Go get him.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-porter/the-only-thing-that-i-know-is-who-s-the-target-who-s-the-best-go-get/)

[Shawn Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-porter/)

## More by Queen Latifah

> [I'm the daughter of a sister whose the mother of a brother who's the brother of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-sister-whose-the-mother-of-a-brother-who-s-the/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [Even if you don't have anything, even if you've got a quarter in your pocket, to share with someone else who has nothing really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/even-if-you-don-t-have-anything-even-if-you-ve-got-a-quarter-in-your/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [God is my homeboy. Jesus is my homeboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/god-is-my-homeboy-jesus-is-my-homeboy/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [Bowling, I like bowling. I've been getting into this bowling thing. It's kinda fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/bowling-i-like-bowling-i-ve-been-getting-into-this-bowling-thing-it-s/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [I believe that the kids, young people should have an opportunity to have Oscar nominated actors in their movies too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-believe-that-the-kids-young-people-should-have-an-opportunity-to/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [I was baptized a Baptist, but I'm just Christian, as far as I'm concerned. I could go in any church, doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-was-baptized-a-baptist-but-i-m-just-christian-as-far-as-i-m/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [Every woman is a queen, and we all have different things to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/every-woman-is-a-queen-and-we-all-have-different-things-to-offer/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [The more you push the budgets up, the more you make records cost $20, the more you make records last 4 and 5 minutes on the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/the-more-you-push-the-budgets-up-the-more-you-make-records-cost-20/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [As a teenager, I had big breasts for my age, and my friends cracked on me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/as-a-teenager-i-had-big-breasts-for-my-age-and-my-friends-cracked-on/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [I think it's important to raise your kids, start 'em early. Teaching them the values and morals, so when they get out there on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-think-it-s-important-to-raise-your-kids-start-em-early-teaching/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [My house borders horse farms, and I can look out my window and see the horses and the new colts. It's really peaceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/my-house-borders-horse-farms-and-i-can-look-out-my-window-and-see-the/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [Jumping off that cliff in Jamaica.It was years ago. It was at this place called Rick's Cafe. Actually, it was two cliffs. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/jumping-off-that-cliff-in-jamaica-it-was-years-ago-it-was-at-this/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [I know a lot of people who really aren't beautiful because their attitudes are very nasty... Whether I make the 50 most beautiful list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-really-aren-t-beautiful-because-their/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [You can't ask someone who is not making that kind of money to go to the record store and buy an album when someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/you-can-t-ask-someone-who-is-not-making-that-kind-of-money-to-go-to/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [I made decisions that I regret, and I took them as learning experiences... I'm human, not perfect, like anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-made-decisions-that-i-regret-and-i-took-them-as-learning/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

[Explore all 228 Queen Latifah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

## More Knows quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [the appetite for thinking must be regulated, as all sensible people know, for it may stifle one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-appetite-for-thinking-must-be-regulated-as-all-sensible-people/)

[Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

> [He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-knows-does-not-speak-he-who-speaks-does-not-know/)

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

> [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

Browse all 53,133 Knows quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "So often, you don't get that opportunity. You only go over everything once and, the next thing you know, you're on set.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Queen Latifah"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity-you-only-go-over-everything/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Knows"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity-you-only-go-over-everything/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/queen-latifah-1560_knows_so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity_3195216.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/queen-latifah-1560_knows_so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity_3195216.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/queen-latifah-1560_knows_so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity_3195216.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“So often, you don't get that opportunity. You only go over everything once and, the next thing you know…” — Queen Latifah",
                "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": "Queen Latifah",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "So often, you don't get that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity-you-only-go-over-everything/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/so-often-you-don-t-get-that-opportunity-you-only-go-over-everything/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
