Opportunity Knocks but Once

A long time ago, in an ancient Greek city, there stood a statue called ‘Opportunity’. Every bit of it has vanished now, but an epigram describing the statue still exists.

The epigram is in the form of a conversation with a traveller.

“What is your name, O statue?”

“I am called Opportunity.”

“Who made you?”

Press “The sculptor Lysippus.”

“Why are you on your toes?”

“To show that I stay but a moment.”

“Why do you have wings on your feet?”

“To show how quickly I pass by.”

“But why is your hair so long on your forehead?”

“So that men may seize me, when they meet me.”

“Why then is your head so bald behind?”

“To show that once I have passed, I cannot be caught.”

Opportunity must be seized by the forelock. Once an opportunity has passed, there is no recalling it.