Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Preparation, I have often said, is rightly two-thirds of any venture.
—Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) American Aviator
The preparations were elaborate and mammoth in scale, and Washington threw himself into the effort, demanding that not an hour be lost.
—David McCullough (b.1933) American Historian
Life is a long preparation for something that never happens.
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.
—Colin Powell (b.1937) American Military Leader
To win a war quickly takes long preparation.
—Latin Proverb
You must be fully prepared to lose a great deal in order to make a great deal.
—Common Proverb
Shape your heart to front the hour, but dream not that the hours will last.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
For all your days prepare,
And meet them ever alike:
When you are the anvil, bear—
When you are the hammer, strike.
—Edwin Markham (1852–1940) American Poet, Educator
I will prepare and some day my chance will come.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
We are always getting ready to live, but never living.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Prepare yourself for when the water comes up to your knees.
—African Proverb
One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.
—Arthur Ashe (1943–93) American Tennis Player
Before you prepare to improve the world, look around your own house three times.
—Chinese Proverb
Look for the best, prepare for the worst, and take what comes.
—Unknown
Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
There is a time to fish and a time to prepare the fish.
—Chinese Proverb
The day you are leaving is not the time to start your preparations.
—African Proverb
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
—Unknown
Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.
—Indian Proverb
The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.
—Joe Paterno (1926–2012) American Sportsperson
God does not work in all hearts alike, but according to the preparation and sensitivity He finds in each.
—Meister Eckhart (c.1260–1327) German Christian Mystic
Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen?. Chance favors only the prepared mind.
—Louis Pasteur (1822–95) French Biologist
Over-preparation is the foe of inspiration.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
The best preparation for the future is the present well seen to, the last duty well done.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
You can’t push anyone up the ladder unless he is ready to climb himself.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Unless you have prepared yourself to profit by your chance, the opportunity will only make you ridiculous. A great occasion is valuable to you just in proportion as you have educated yourself to make use of it.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.
—Gail Godwin (b.1937) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
Imperfect preparation gives rise to the thousand-fold forms that express physical and mental inferiority and insecurity.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
The five steps in teaching an employee new skills are preparation, explanation, showing, observation and supervision.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
—Jackie Joyner-Kersee (b.1962) American Athlete
If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights.
—Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) American Sportsperson
If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
An individual’s self-concept is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
I don’t know a better preparation for life than a love of poetry and a good digestion.
—Zona Gale (1874–1938) American Novelist, Story Writer, Dramatist
The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
Today is the best preparation for what tomorrow may bring.
—Indian Proverb
There are no secrets to success: don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence.
—Colin Powell (b.1937) American Military Leader
First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
No man not inspired can make a good speech without preparation
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer