--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Opportunities come infrequently. When it…" description: "\"Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble\" — Warren Buffett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/warren-buffett-183_buckets_opportunities-come-infrequently-when-it_3066760.png" --- # Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put… ![“Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/warren-buffett-183_buckets_opportunities-come-infrequently-when-it_3066760.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/warren-buffett-183_buckets_opportunities-come-infrequently-when-it_3066760.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/warren-buffett-183_buckets_opportunities-come-infrequently-when-it_3066760.png) > “Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble” [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rare opportunities are like gold rain; use a large container (bucket) to capture them, not a small one (thimble). **In simple terms:** Grab big chances, don’t settle for tiny gains. Key Takeaway Seek and prepare for big opportunities. Themes wealth investment risk opportunity strategy Mood pragmatic motivational Type financial strategic When to use this quote - investment planning - career moves - entrepreneurship - risk management Key Concepts Finance behavioral economics decision theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify a “gold rain”? - What “bucket” can you prepare? A Different Perspective Large opportunities are rare and require readiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) ## Related quotes > [“Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.” —WARREN BUFFETT”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/opportunities-come-infrequently-when-it-rains-gold-put-out-the-bucket/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You do things when the opportunities come along. I've had periods in my life when I've had a bundle of ideals come along, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-do-things-when-the-opportunities-come-along-i-ve-had-periods-in-2/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [You do things when the opportunities come along. I've had periods in my life when I've had a bundle of ideas come along, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-do-things-when-the-opportunities-come-along-i-ve-had-periods-in/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/don-t-sit-down-and-wait-for-the-opportunities-to-come-get-up-and-make/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [Opportunities come And opportunities go But it seems the ones That hurts you most Are the ones that you pass by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-leshley/opportunities-come-and-opportunities-go-but-it-seems-the-ones-that/) Ami Leshley > [Opportunities may come along for you to convert something -something that exists into something that didn't yet. That might be the beginning of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/opportunities-may-come-along-for-you-to-convert-something-something/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [When opportunities come my way, I'm going to try to make the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/when-opportunities-come-my-way-i-m-going-to-try-to-make-the-play/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can put himself in such shape that when or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-often-that-a-man-can-make-opportunities-for-himself-but-he/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I'd rather do movies 'cause I am better at movies, but I do shows 'cause the opportunities have come forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-masterson/i-d-rather-do-movies-cause-i-am-better-at-movies-but-i-do-shows-cause/) [Danny Masterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-masterson/) > [“One has various things in the back of one's mind. Occasionally an opportunity presents itself to bring one forward. Most of these opportunities come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/one-has-various-things-in-the-back-of-one-s-mind-occasionally-an/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [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 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/) > [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 Warren Buffett > [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Making money isn't the backbone of our guiding purpose; it is the by-product of our guiding purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/making-money-isn-t-the-backbone-of-our-guiding-purpose-it-is-the-by/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We set no volume goals in our insurance business generally-and certainly not in reinsurance-as virtually any volume can be achieved if profitability standards are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-set-no-volume-goals-in-our-insurance-business-generally-and/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It is better to point out your own mistakes than have somebody else do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-is-better-to-point-out-your-own-mistakes-than-have-somebody-else/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I was lucky enough to be born in a time and place where society values my talent, and gave me a good education to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-born-in-a-time-and-place-where-society/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-common-cause-of-low-prices-is-pessimism-some-times-pervasive/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [What you really want to do in investments is figure out what's important and knowable. If it's unimportant or unknowable you forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/what-you-really-want-to-do-in-investments-is-figure-out-what-s/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I don't measure my life by the money I've made. Other people might, but certainly don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-don-t-measure-my-life-by-the-money-i-ve-made-other-people-might-but/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I mean the truth is, I've never had it so good in terms of taxes. I am paying the lowest tax rate that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-the-truth-is-i-ve-never-had-it-so-good-in-terms-of-taxes-i-am/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-important-quality-for-an-investor-is-temperament-not/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) [Explore all 984 Warren Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## More Buckets quotes > [In the water bucket a melon and an eggplant nodding to each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yosa-buson/in-the-water-bucket-a-melon-and-an-eggplant-nodding-to-each-other/) [Yosa Buson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yosa-buson/) > [What a pure blessing it was to have a bath in a tub alone in a room where all you had to do was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-e-turner/what-a-pure-blessing-it-was-to-have-a-bath-in-a-tub-alone-in-a-room/) [Nancy E. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-e-turner/) > [After Nicholas hung up the phone, he watched his mother carry buckets and garden tools across the couch grass toward a bed that would,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-irwin/after-nicholas-hung-up-the-phone-he-watched-his-mother-carry-buckets/) [Stephen M. Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-irwin/) > [Two tears in a bucket. Motherfuck it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berendt/two-tears-in-a-bucket-motherfuck-it/) [John Berendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berendt/) > [My paternal grandmother would not light a fire on the Sabbath and piled all Sunday's washing-up in a bucket, to be dealt with on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/my-paternal-grandmother-would-not-light-a-fire-on-the-sabbath-and/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [When you are relaxed about where you are at in life, things tend to flow more fluidly. It is as if you poke three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-o-neill/when-you-are-relaxed-about-where-you-are-at-in-life-things-tend-to/) [Jennifer O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-o-neill/) > [Seventeen, eh!" said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred. "Six years to the day we met, Harry, d’yeh remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seventeen-eh-said-hagrid-as-he-accepted-a-bucket-sized-glass-of-wine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I grew up having to piss in a bucket ’cos there was no indoor shitter, and now I have these computerised Japanese super-loo things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-grew-up-having-to-piss-in-a-bucket-cos-there-was-no-indoor-shitter/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [When life gives you the opportunity to check off a thing on the bucket list, you have to check them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/when-life-gives-you-the-opportunity-to-check-off-a-thing-on-the/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [If pigs could vote, the man with the slop bucket would be elected swineherd every time, no matter how much slaughtering he did on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/if-pigs-could-vote-the-man-with-the-slop-bucket-would-be-elected/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [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/) > [Write what you know. Every guide for the aspiring author advises this. Because I live in a long-settled rural place, I know certain things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/write-what-you-know-every-guide-for-the-aspiring-author-advises-this/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Two buckets were easier carried than one. / I grew up in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/two-buckets-were-easier-carried-than-one-i-grew-up-in-between/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [I would love to go to India. And also someday, I want to have a family. That's my bucket-list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/i-would-love-to-go-to-india-and-also-someday-i-want-to-have-a-family/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [Affection can no more spoil a child than the sun could be put out by a bucket of gasoline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/affection-can-no-more-spoil-a-child-than-the-sun-could-be-put-out-by/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) Browse all 253 Buckets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Opportunities come infrequently. 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