--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by…" description: "\"Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks and shut off the burglar alarm, it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/rita-coolidge-25500_alarm_too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by_3061945.jpg" --- # Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you… ![“Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks and shut off the burglar alarm, it's too late.” quote by Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/rita-coolidge-25500_alarm_too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by_3061945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/rita-coolidge-25500_alarm_too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by_3061945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/rita-coolidge-25500_alarm_too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by_3061945.jpg) > “Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks and shut off the burglar alarm, it's too late.” [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opportunities fade if delayed; hesitation lets chances slip away. **In simple terms:** Delay kills opportunities. Key Takeaway Act promptly. Themes opportunity timing delay action Mood pragmatic cautious Type strategic reflective When to use this quote - job applications - investment decisions - social invitations - emergency response Key Concepts behavioral economics decision theory Questions to Reflect On - When is waiting beneficial? - What factors justify postponement? A Different Perspective Some delays are strategic, not always harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity knocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-knocks/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [“guess the question is, how paranoid do you want to be? How many guns does it take to make you feel safe? And how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/guess-the-question-is-how-paranoid-do-you-want-to-be-how-many-guns/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There's gonna be a lot of slow singin' and flower bringin' if my burglar alarm starts ringin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-gonna-be-a-lot-of-slow-singin-and-flower-bringin-if-my-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's gonna be a lot of slow singing and flower bringing If my burglar alarm starts ringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/there-s-gonna-be-a-lot-of-slow-singing-and-flower-bringing-if-my/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [“Gya!! Stay away from me, weirdo! I'll press the burglar alarm!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peach-pit/gya-stay-away-from-me-weirdo-i-ll-press-the-burglar-alarm/) [Peach-Pit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peach-pit/) > [Modern man threw a brick through his own window in order to sell himself a burglar alarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-carr/modern-man-threw-a-brick-through-his-own-window-in-order-to-sell/) [Allen Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-carr/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Rita Coolidge > [I think the challenges for me was to go into the studio with these incredible jazz players and come up to their level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-think-the-challenges-for-me-was-to-go-into-the-studio-with-these/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [The month of September is Women in Jazz, so I'm doing jazz there in September. I'm in for the duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/the-month-of-september-is-women-in-jazz-so-i-m-doing-jazz-there-in/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [My grandmother passed at 104. She sang and wrote songs until she passed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/my-grandmother-passed-at-104-she-sang-and-wrote-songs-until-she-passed/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I wanted to make a jazz record. I didn't want it to be a standards record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-wanted-to-make-a-jazz-record-i-didn-t-want-it-to-be-a-standards/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I was kind of known as a ballad singer. People would send ballads. Some of them would go over my shoulder and float off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-was-kind-of-known-as-a-ballad-singer-people-would-send-ballads-some/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I recorded my first jazz record in the '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-recorded-my-first-jazz-record-in-the-70s/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I think you have to have a jazz pedigree to be on jazz radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-think-you-have-to-have-a-jazz-pedigree-to-be-on-jazz-radio/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I say what's in my heart, and I do it in my concerts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-say-what-s-in-my-heart-and-i-do-it-in-my-concerts/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [If I'm driving to L.A. and have anxiety about making the drive, if I've got Peggy with me, we're cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/if-i-m-driving-to-l-a-and-have-anxiety-about-making-the-drive-if-i-ve/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [Universal was absolutely marvelous about sitting down with me and listening to my input. It wasn't something where they chose a bunch of songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/universal-was-absolutely-marvelous-about-sitting-down-with-me-and/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [Jazz radio is not very friendly to pop singers who decide to make a jazz record. But a lot of people have been. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/jazz-radio-is-not-very-friendly-to-pop-singers-who-decide-to-make-a/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I choose things by how they resonate in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-choose-things-by-how-they-resonate-in-my-heart/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I'm not stopping. My dream has come true, and I'm staying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-m-not-stopping-my-dream-has-come-true-and-i-m-staying/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I don't think I was considered to be a cabaret singer because I didn't have patter that was written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-don-t-think-i-was-considered-to-be-a-cabaret-singer-because-i-didn/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [There was a subtlety about Peggy Lee. It was powerful. There was a valuable use of space. Everything was not cluttered. Her voice was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/there-was-a-subtlety-about-peggy-lee-it-was-powerful-there-was-a/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) [Explore all 23 Rita Coolidge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) ## More Alarm quotes > [“We kiss until the alarm sounds off on my phone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-kiss-until-the-alarm-sounds-off-on-my-phone/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I don't use an alarm, though sometimes Alexa wakes me, especially if I have to get up at a certain time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-don-t-use-an-alarm-though-sometimes-alexa-wakes-me-especially-if-i/) [Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/) > [The fire alarm definitely just went off...I think I'll stick to microwaveable popcorn from now on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bailey/the-fire-alarm-definitely-just-went-off-i-think-i-ll-stick-to/) [Candace Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bailey/) > [There's gonna be a lot of slow singin' and flower bringin' if my burgalar alarm starts ringin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biggie-smalls/there-s-gonna-be-a-lot-of-slow-singin-and-flower-bringin-if-my/) [Biggie Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biggie-smalls/) > [I have slight attention-span issues, so I will often wander off, and then I will be alerted - in inverted commas - when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-have-slight-attention-span-issues-so-i-will-often-wander-off-and/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [As Secretary of Housing, I do have to express alarm, signal the alarm if you will, that the potential for homelessness to grow is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cisneros/as-secretary-of-housing-i-do-have-to-express-alarm-signal-the-alarm/) [Henry Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cisneros/) > [To-night I am going to take a party to the headquarters of the fire department, where I have a cinch on the captain, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-davis/to-night-i-am-going-to-take-a-party-to-the-headquarters-of-the-fire/) [Richard H. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-davis/) > [We've already seen digital picture frames pre-loaded with viruses; I'm not eager to have my refrigerator hacked or my alarm clock turned against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/we-ve-already-seen-digital-picture-frames-pre-loaded-with-viruses-i-m/) [Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/) > [You lock your windows before you leave. You put on an alarm if you live in the country because you know that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/you-lock-your-windows-before-you-leave-you-put-on-an-alarm-if-you/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [Waking up naturally to light is way better. It feels way better than waking up to an alarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/waking-up-naturally-to-light-is-way-better-it-feels-way-better-than/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I'm like a fire hose when the alarm goes off in a battle against a woman. Don't ever count me out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/i-m-like-a-fire-hose-when-the-alarm-goes-off-in-a-battle-against-a/) [Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/) > [Sleeping is my drug, my bed is the dealer, and my alarm clock is the police..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-sakundiak/sleeping-is-my-drug-my-bed-is-the-dealer-and-my-alarm-clock-is-the/) [Mitchell Sakundiak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-sakundiak/) > [“Tip #2: No more alarm clocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-conroy/tip-2-no-more-alarm-clocks/) Mary Helen Conroy > [I don't set the alarm to get up. I get up when I feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-don-t-set-the-alarm-to-get-up-i-get-up-when-i-feel-like-it/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) Browse all 272 Alarm quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks and shut off the burglar alarm, it's too late.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rita Coolidge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by-the-time-you-push-back-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alarm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by-the-time-you-push-back-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/rita-coolidge-25500_alarm_too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by_3061945.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/rita-coolidge-25500_alarm_too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by_3061945.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/rita-coolidge-25500_alarm_too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by_3061945.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Too often, the opportunity knocks, but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the…” — Rita Coolidge", "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": "Rita Coolidge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Too often, the opportunity knocks, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by-the-time-you-push-back-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/too-often-the-opportunity-knocks-but-by-the-time-you-push-back-the/#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 } } ] } ```