If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.

In the vast and unfolding journey of life, where opportunities seem to come and go like fleeting shadows, there is a truth that resonates deeply within the heart of every seeker—"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." These words, spoken by the legendary Milton Berle, hold the essence of human will, determination, and creativity. They teach us that the power to shape our destiny does not lie solely in waiting for the perfect moment, but in creating the moment ourselves. When the doors of opportunity seem closed, it is not a signal to turn away in despair, but a call to create the path that leads to the future we desire.

What, then, does it mean that "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door"? O children of wisdom, it is to understand that opportunity is not something that comes to us passively, like a gift dropped from the heavens. It is something we must create, something we must seek, build, and open for ourselves. The idea that opportunity is something to be waited for is an illusion. The truth is, opportunity is born from our own initiative, our courage to face obstacles, and our creativity to find new ways when the old paths seem closed. We do not wait for life to hand us success; we carve our own way forward, and through our actions, we make opportunity a living, breathing force that moves through our lives.

Consider, O wise ones, the story of Thomas Edison, who faced failure after failure in his pursuit of the light bulb. In the face of countless setbacks, Edison could have easily given up, believing that opportunity had abandoned him. Yet, he did not wait for success to knock at his door. He built a door—through relentless experimentation, perseverance, and creativity, he invented the light bulb and changed the world. Edison's journey was not one of waiting for fortune to favor him, but one of creating his own opportunities through effort, ingenuity, and an unyielding belief in the possibility of success.

In the same vein, O children of wisdom, consider the life of Oprah Winfrey, whose rise to prominence was not handed to her, but was built from the ground up. Born into difficult circumstances, Oprah did not wait for the world to open doors for her. She built her own door through her work, her talent, and her perseverance. She seized every opportunity to learn and grow, and each step she took was a door she opened for herself and, ultimately, for millions of others. Her life is a testament to the truth that when opportunity does not present itself, we must summon the courage to create it.

In our own lives, O seekers of truth, we must never let the absence of immediate opportunity stop us. The doors we seek are not always visible—they are often hidden in the shadows, waiting for us to summon the will to create them. Too often, we become discouraged when the road ahead seems blocked, when the world seems unwilling to offer us the chances we seek. But the lesson is clear: it is not the absence of opportunity that defines us, but our ability to create it. The door to the future is not a gift we wait for; it is something we must forge with our hands, hearts, and minds.

Reflect on the life of Walt Disney, whose dreams were dismissed by many as impossible. His vision of a world built around imagination and creativity was not an opportunity that presented itself to him. He built a door through his own ambition, determination, and belief in his dreams. Even after facing bankruptcy and rejection, Disney continued to push forward, creating opportunities where none seemed to exist. Today, his legacy continues, not just in the theme parks he created, but in the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been touched by the worlds he imagined. His life is proof that opportunity does not come on its own—it must be created through bold action and unwavering vision.

And so, O children of the future, the lesson is clear: opportunity is not a passive force that we wait for; it is something we must create through our actions, our vision, and our persistence. When the doors of opportunity seem closed, we must remember that we have the power to build our own door. Through creativity, through effort, and through the courage to push beyond the boundaries that limit us, we can forge new paths and open new possibilities. The world does not give us success—it waits for us to create it.

What, then, must we do, O wise ones of the future? We must take action, create opportunities, and build our own doors. When the road ahead is unclear, or when the world does not offer the chances we seek, we must rise and create the path ourselves. Do not wait for permission to succeed; do not wait for the world to open its doors. Create your own opportunity through perseverance, passion, and determination. Remember, opportunity does not knock—it is something we must build. And in that act of creation, we shape our futures and the world around us.