Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss

William Arthur Ward, the teacher of inspiration and master of wise sayings, once declared: “Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.” His words are radiant with truth, for they remind us of the fleeting nature of both time and possibility. The sunrise does not linger for the slothful; it graces the horizon for a moment, painting the sky in fire and gold, before it ascends beyond reach. So too with the chances life places before us—they come, they glow, and they pass. To seize them requires vigilance, courage, and readiness. To delay is to find only regret where once there was promise.

The origin of Ward’s thought lies in the eternal rhythm of life itself. Every dawn is a parable written in the sky: the world renews itself, but only for those awake to behold it. Just as the sun does not wait for the sleeper, so life’s moments of chance do not wait for the hesitant. In this image, Ward transforms the natural beauty of morning into a teaching for the human soul. He urges us to live with eyes open, hearts prepared, and wills sharpened, lest we miss the very doors that lead to our destiny.

History is filled with the power of this truth. Consider the tale of Alexander the Great. When he was offered the chance to strike swiftly against the Persian Empire, he did not linger. Though outnumbered, he seized the moment with boldness, crossing into Asia and beginning a campaign that would reshape the world. Had he hesitated, had he waited for perfect conditions, his chance might have faded. But like the man who rises with the dawn, Alexander grasped the sunrise of opportunity—and history remembers him for it.

Yet the opposite also teaches us. In 1519, the ruler Moctezuma of the Aztec Empire hesitated when faced with the arrival of Hernán Cortés. Unsure whether to treat the Spaniards as gods or invaders, he delayed, waiting for certainty. In that delay, he missed the chance to act decisively, and his empire was lost. His story stands as a dark reminder of Ward’s wisdom: if you wait too long, the light passes, and what remains is only shadow.

Ward’s imagery also speaks to the soul on a personal level. Opportunities are not only wars or empires; they are also friendships to be embraced, words of kindness to be spoken, dreams to be pursued. A student hesitating to take a chance on learning, a worker hesitating to act boldly, a lover hesitating to confess affection—each risks losing the sunrise of their moment. Once gone, it cannot be reclaimed. The sky will hold another dawn, but never the same one, never the same light, never the same chance.

The lesson for us is as clear as the morning sky: be awake, be ready, be brave. Do not wait endlessly for perfect timing, for perfection never arrives. When the moment comes, seize it with both hands, trusting that action itself is better than regret. This does not mean recklessness, but it does mean courage: the courage to step forward while the light is upon you.

Therefore, let Ward’s words echo in your heart: opportunities are like sunrises. Do not slumber while the world offers you its gift. Rise, open your eyes, and take hold of what is before you, for hesitation is the thief of destiny. Just as dawn rewards those who wake early, life rewards those who act boldly when the moment arrives.

And so, let it be remembered: the one who greets the sunrise of opportunity with readiness walks in the light of achievement, while the one who lingers in hesitation finds only darkness. Seize the dawn, and the day shall be yours.