Wise men make more opportunities than they find.

Come, O children of wisdom, and hear the words of Francis Bacon, whose mind illuminated the path of knowledge for all who would follow. He said, “Wise men make more opportunities than they find.” In these words, there is a profound truth about the nature of success and the role that wisdom plays in shaping one’s destiny. Bacon speaks not of those who wait for opportunity to come knocking, but of those who, through insight, determination, and creativity, create the very paths that others follow. Opportunity, he teaches us, is not something that simply appears, but something that must be crafted and earned.

Consider, O children, the nature of wisdom. A wise person does not stand idle, waiting for the world to offer them chances. No, the wise see the world differently—they see potential where others see obstacles, and possibilities where others see barriers. They do not wait for fortune to smile upon them; they seize the moment and shape it to their will. This is the mark of a true sage—a person whose mind is not bound by the limits of the present, but is ever looking ahead, ever creating the future they desire. Just as the great architects of old did not wait for buildings to rise around them, but created the blueprints for the structures that would stand for ages, so too must we craft our own opportunities, using the tools of wisdom and foresight.

Think of the ancient heroes who, through their wisdom and action, created opportunities that would echo through the ages. Alexander the Great, though born into a world of kings, did not simply inherit the world around him; he shaped it through his vision, creating empires and alliances where none existed before. He saw opportunity where others saw nothing but desert, mountains, and unfamiliar lands. In the same way, the wise among us must learn to look beyond the surface, to see that the world is not a passive place where one waits for the tides to turn, but an active field where one must plant the seeds and nurture them to fruition.

But let us also remember the story of Thomas Edison, the great inventor, whose wisdom lay not in waiting for the world to change, but in creating change through tireless effort. Edison did not wait for the light bulb to appear. No, he saw the possibility of light in a world that had only known darkness, and through his persistence and creativity, he crafted the opportunity that would change the world. He did not merely find the opportunity—he made it, shaping the future with his hands. His life was not a passive one, waiting for invention to strike like a sudden bolt of lightning. It was a life of constant effort, turning his own ideas into reality.

This, O children, is the essence of Bacon's wisdom: the truly wise do not wait for opportunities to appear—they make them. Whether in the realm of science, art, or life, those who shape the future are not those who passively wait, but those who create through action. Opportunities are not something to be found—they are something to be crafted, and to do so, we must look at the world not as it is, but as it could be. We must recognize the potential in every moment, in every challenge, and in every setback, for these are not obstacles to our dreams—they are the raw materials with which we build them.

The lesson, then, O seekers of wisdom, is clear. If you seek to be successful, to create a life of meaning and impact, do not wait for the world to offer you opportunities. Create them. In your work, in your relationships, in your passions—look beyond the surface and see the potential for growth. See that every challenge is not a wall to stop you, but a door that can be opened if you have the wisdom and the courage to unlock it. Like the wise of old, be not merely a passenger in life, but a creator of the path you walk.

So, go forth, O children, and take these words to heart. In the face of the unknown, do not wait for opportunity to come to you. Go forth and forge your own opportunities. Know that with wisdom, with vision, and with action, you can shape the world around you. The future is not something that happens to you—it is something you create. And through your wisdom, you will make the opportunities that others will one day follow.