--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All great work is preparing yourself for…" description: "\"All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.\" — Sidney Lumet" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/sidney-lumet-24948_accident_all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for_2941432.jpg" --- # All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to… ![“All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.” quote by Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/sidney-lumet-24948_accident_all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for_2941432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/sidney-lumet-24948_accident_all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for_2941432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/sidney-lumet-24948_accident_all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for_2941432.jpg) > “All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.” [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great work prepares you for unexpected opportunities, implying that preparation creates the conditions for serendipity. **In simple terms:** Preparation enables unexpected success. Key Takeaway Prepare thoroughly for future chances. Themes preparation serendipity career Mood inspirational pragmatic Type career creative When to use this quote - career planning - skill development - networking - project management - creative brainstorming Key Concepts philosophy of work creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay ready? - What unexpected opportunities have you missed? A Different Perspective Preparation doesn’t guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) [Accident Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident-happen-502584/) [Great work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-work/) [Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing/) [Preparing Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing-accident-4387029/) [Work Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-preparing-3242731/) ## Related quotes > [Someone told me that everything happens for a reason. Every mistake, every accident they happen in order to make way for other.. Significant occurrences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janethnipay/someone-told-me-that-everything-happens-for-a-reason-every-mistake/) [Janethnipay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janethnipay/) > [What I've realised is that I'm happiest when I'm at work, as I am always preparing myself for when the opportunity arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara-advani/what-i-ve-realised-is-that-i-m-happiest-when-i-m-at-work-as-i-am/) [Kiara Advani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara-advani/) > [Things never happen on accident. They happen because you have a vision, you have a commitment, you have a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-renta/things-never-happen-on-accident-they-happen-because-you-have-a-vision/) [Oscar de la Renta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-renta/) > [“There is an overflowing grace, for every great work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-an-overflowing-grace-for-every-great-work/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I just want to do great work: work that inspires people... To know that you are given this gift in life and that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-blanchard/i-just-want-to-do-great-work-work-that-inspires-people-to-know-that/) [Tammy Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-blanchard/) > [We're being very good team players here and very happy we've got a great working relationship with Reince Priebus and the RNC. They've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/we-re-being-very-good-team-players-here-and-very-happy-we-ve-got-a/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [The longer you are in acting business, the more you cherish the times when you're working with people that do great work, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/the-longer-you-are-in-acting-business-the-more-you-cherish-the-times/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [I want my whole life to be a great work of art, not just my art. And that means paying attention to my entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/i-want-my-whole-life-to-be-a-great-work-of-art-not-just-my-art-and/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [All My Children taught me a great work ethic; you work so hard on a soap opera! It is a good way to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-larue/all-my-children-taught-me-a-great-work-ethic-you-work-so-hard-on-a/) [Eva LaRue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-larue/) > [If it is written and read with serious attention, a novel, like a myth or any great work of art, can become an initiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-it-is-written-and-read-with-serious-attention-a-novel-like-a-myth/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“Difference makers not only stay engaged until a difference is made, but follow the results of their work…. They insist on knowing what worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sturt/difference-makers-not-only-stay-engaged-until-a-difference-is-made/) [David Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sturt/) > [To fashion stars out of dog dung, that is the Great Work. To take a negative experience and, by comparing it to something worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-david-neel/to-fashion-stars-out-of-dog-dung-that-is-the-great-work-to-take-a/) [Alexandra David-Neel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-david-neel/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Sidney Lumet > [There are no minor decisions in movie making. Each decision will either contribute to a good piece of work or bring the whole movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-are-no-minor-decisions-in-movie-making-each-decision-will/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [In drama, the characters should determine the story. In melodrama, the story determines the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/in-drama-the-characters-should-determine-the-story-in-melodrama-the/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [There's a powerful magic about being a writer that I still marvel at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-s-a-powerful-magic-about-being-a-writer-that-i-still-marvel-at/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Good style, to me, is unseen style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/good-style-to-me-is-unseen-style/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [There are no personal revelations other than feelings arising from the work itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-are-no-personal-revelations-other-than-feelings-arising-from/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [The varying physical characteristics of the actors may also necessitate changes. Sean Connery is six feet four. Dustin Hoffman isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/the-varying-physical-characteristics-of-the-actors-may-also/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [I only said 'Titanic' is unwatchable because one can not watch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/i-only-said-titanic-is-unwatchable-because-one-can-not-watch-it/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Suffice to say that the theme (the WHAT of the movie) is going to determine the style (the HOW of the movie).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/suffice-to-say-that-the-theme-the-what-of-the-movie-is-going-to/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [If I don't have a script I adore, I do one I like. If I don't have one I like, I do one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/if-i-don-t-have-a-script-i-adore-i-do-one-i-like-if-i-don-t-have-one/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Don't let the difficulty of actually achieving a shot make you think that the shot is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/don-t-let-the-difficulty-of-actually-achieving-a-shot-make-you-think/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Over-length is one of the things that most often results in the destruction of the movie in the cutting room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/over-length-is-one-of-the-things-that-most-often-results-in-the/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [There's no such thing as a small part. There are just small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-small-part-there-are-just-small-actors/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [It's art. It's commerce. It's heartbreaking and it's fun. It's a great way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/it-s-art-it-s-commerce-it-s-heartbreaking-and-it-s-fun-it-s-a-great/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [“The basic 110-volt AC power line moves the electrons at 60 cycles. If a transformer is close to the power source (and all speakers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/the-basic-110-volt-ac-power-line-moves-the-electrons-at-60-cycles-if/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [I don't know how to choose work that illuminates what my life is about. I don't know what my life is about and don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/i-don-t-know-how-to-choose-work-that-illuminates-what-my-life-is-2/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) [Explore all 23 Sidney Lumet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) ## More Accident quotes > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“The accident in your rearview mirror already happened. The one in front of you is still preventable. Pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/the-accident-in-your-rearview-mirror-already-happened-the-one-in/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [People dont get married by accident and they dont get divorced by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/people-dont-get-married-by-accident-and-they-dont-get-divorced-by/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [My father had Parkinson's, though he actually died following a bicycle accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/my-father-had-parkinson-s-though-he-actually-died-following-a-bicycle/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [A tragic car accident put me in a wheelchair and dashed my hopes and dreams for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/a-tragic-car-accident-put-me-in-a-wheelchair-and-dashed-my-hopes-and/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [The spirit in the body is like wine in a glass; when it spills, it seeps into air and earth and light….It’s a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/the-spirit-in-the-body-is-like-wine-in-a-glass-when-it-spills-it/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/accident-ruled-every-corner-of-the-universe-except-the-chambers-of/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [There is a French expression that says: to be exposed to an accident, to cross a street without looking at the cars means exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-is-a-french-expression-that-says-to-be-exposed-to-an-accident/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [It's no accident that most self-help groups use 'anonymous' in their names; to Americans, the first step toward redemption is a ritual wiping out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/it-s-no-accident-that-most-self-help-groups-use-anonymous-in-their/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [However, I met with a horrible accident while riding my bike in Sangla Valley. The accident was a wakeup call for me stop getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/however-i-met-with-a-horrible-accident-while-riding-my-bike-in-sangla/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [“Because the core of my personal philosophy is that everything that happens to us benefits us, I was also spared the futility of cursing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-the-core-of-my-personal-philosophy-is-that-everything-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 922 Accident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sidney Lumet" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for-the-accident-to-happen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accident" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for-the-accident-to-happen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/sidney-lumet-24948_accident_all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for_2941432.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/sidney-lumet-24948_accident_all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for_2941432.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33f/sidney-lumet-24948_accident_all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for_2941432.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.” — Sidney Lumet", "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": "Sidney Lumet", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All great work is preparing yourself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for-the-accident-to-happen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/all-great-work-is-preparing-yourself-for-the-accident-to-happen/#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 } } ] } ```