--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think luck is the sense to recognize an…" description: "\"I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it... The man who can smile at his breaks and grab his chanc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_ability_i-think-luck-is-the-sense-to-recognize-a_2919440.jpg" --- # I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and… ![“I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it... The man who can smile at his breaks and grab his chances gets on.” quote by Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_ability_i-think-luck-is-the-sense-to-recognize-a_2919440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_ability_i-think-luck-is-the-sense-to-recognize-a_2919440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/samuel-goldwyn-3156_ability_i-think-luck-is-the-sense-to-recognize-a_2919440.jpg) > “I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it... The man who can smile at his breaks and grab his chances gets on.” [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Luck combines recognizing chances and acting on them; optimism turns setbacks into opportunities. **In simple terms:** Spot chances, act on them. Key Takeaway Stay alert, seize opportunities. Themes opportunity optimism action Mood motivational pragmatic Type inspirational business When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - career moves - risk taking Key Concepts luck mindset initiative Questions to Reflect On - Do you wait for luck or create it? - How do you turn failure into chance? A Different Perspective Not all opportunities are good; discernment required. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ## Related quotes > [“I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it. Every one has bad breaks, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/i-think-luck-is-the-sense-to-recognize-an-opportunity-and-the-ability/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [I have never believed much in luck, and my sense of humor has tended to walk on the dark side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-have-never-believed-much-in-luck-and-my-sense-of-humor-has-tended/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Sometimes you have to win ugly, a smash and grab after not many chances on goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsdale/sometimes-you-have-to-win-ugly-a-smash-and-grab-after-not-many/) [Aaron Ramsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsdale/) > [It comes from the likes of you! Take what you can get! Grab the chances as they come along! Act in hallways! Sing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-woollcott/it-comes-from-the-likes-of-you-take-what-you-can-get-grab-the-chances/) [Alexander Woollcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-woollcott/) > [Have fun, work hard and money will come. Don't waste time - grab your chances. Have a positive outlook on life. When it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/have-fun-work-hard-and-money-will-come-don-t-waste-time-grab-your/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [What is opportunity, and when does it knock? It never knocks. You can wait a whole lifetime, listening, hoping, and you will hear no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/what-is-opportunity-and-when-does-it-knock-it-never-knocks-you-can/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Opportunity ... It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/opportunity-it-has-a-sly-habit-of-slipping-in-by-the-back-door-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Most of us never recognize opportunity until it goes to work in our competitors business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-of-us-never-recognize-opportunity-until-it-goes-to-work-in-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be aware of danger-but recognize the opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/be-aware-of-danger-but-recognize-the-opportunity/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [All you have to do is recognize an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meyer-lansky/all-you-have-to-do-is-recognize-an-opportunity/) [Meyer Lansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meyer-lansky/) > [The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-reason-a-lot-of-people-do-not-recognize-opportunity-is-because-it/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/that-is-one-of-the-tricks-of-opportunity-it-has-a-sly-habit-of/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/to-know-in-war-how-to-recognize-an-opportunity-and-seize-it-is-better/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Diligence and hard work sensitize you to recognize opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-p-ingerson/diligence-and-hard-work-sensitize-you-to-recognize-opportunity/) [David P. Ingerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-p-ingerson/) > [People seldom recognize opportunity for it comes disguised as hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-balachander/people-seldom-recognize-opportunity-for-it-comes-disguised-as-hard/) K. Balachander ## More by Samuel Goldwyn > [If I were in this business only for the business, I wouldn't be in this business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/if-i-were-in-this-business-only-for-the-business-i-wouldn-t-be-in/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [If I look confused it is because I am thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/if-i-look-confused-it-is-because-i-am-thinking/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Don't worry about the war. It's all over but the shooting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/don-t-worry-about-the-war-it-s-all-over-but-the-shooting/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Having integrity...means being completely true to what is inside you - to what you know is right...what you feel you must do, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/having-integrity-means-being-completely-true-to-what-is-inside-you-to/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [For your information, I would like to ask a question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/for-your-information-i-would-like-to-ask-a-question/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Don't pay any attention to the critics - don't even ignore them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/don-t-pay-any-attention-to-the-critics-don-t-even-ignore-them/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [I never liked you, and I always will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/i-never-liked-you-and-i-always-will/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [They stayed away in droves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/they-stayed-away-in-droves/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Television has raised writing to a new low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/television-has-raised-writing-to-a-new-low/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [I never put on a pair of shoes until I've worn them at least five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/i-never-put-on-a-pair-of-shoes-until-i-ve-worn-them-at-least-five/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Include me out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/include-me-out/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [ \[when asked by his secretary if she should destroy all files that were over ten years old\] Yes, but keep copies. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/when-asked-by-his-secretary-if-she-should-destroy-all-files-that-were/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [A Hospital isn't any place to end up being sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/a-hospital-isn-t-any-place-to-end-up-being-sick/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Too caustic? To hell with the costs, we'll make the picture anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/too-caustic-to-hell-with-the-costs-we-ll-make-the-picture-anyway/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Modern dancing is old fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/modern-dancing-is-old-fashioned/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) [Explore all 138 Samuel Goldwyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [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/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it... 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