"I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it... The man who can smile at his breaks and grab his chances gets on"
About this Quote
Goldwyn’s “luck” isn’t mystical; it’s a studio boss’s way of renaming power as attitude. In Hollywood’s factory era, where careers hinged on timing, access, and the shifting moods of moguls, calling success “luck” could sound humble while quietly reinforcing a brutal truth: opportunities don’t matter if you can’t move fast, sell yourself, and stomach the churn. His definition turns fortune into a skill set: perception (spot the opening), execution (capitalize), and temperament (smile at your breaks).
That last clause is the real tell. “Smile at his breaks” reframes setbacks as raw material. It’s not only resilience; it’s the performance of resilience. In an industry built on meetings, favors, and reputations, visible composure is currency. If you look defeated, you become expensive; if you look buoyant, you become bankable. Goldwyn is describing emotional labor before we had the term: the ability to take a hit without making it anyone else’s problem.
The subtext is also conveniently selective. “Opportunity” is treated as a neutral weather system, not something distributed through networks, gatekeepers, and bias. That omission serves a producer’s worldview: the system is tough but fair, and the winners “grab.” It’s a motivating line with an edge of self-justification, polishing the machinery of Hollywood ambition into a personal virtue story. Luck, here, is less a gift than a posture: eyes open, hands out, grin fixed.
That last clause is the real tell. “Smile at his breaks” reframes setbacks as raw material. It’s not only resilience; it’s the performance of resilience. In an industry built on meetings, favors, and reputations, visible composure is currency. If you look defeated, you become expensive; if you look buoyant, you become bankable. Goldwyn is describing emotional labor before we had the term: the ability to take a hit without making it anyone else’s problem.
The subtext is also conveniently selective. “Opportunity” is treated as a neutral weather system, not something distributed through networks, gatekeepers, and bias. That omission serves a producer’s worldview: the system is tough but fair, and the winners “grab.” It’s a motivating line with an edge of self-justification, polishing the machinery of Hollywood ambition into a personal virtue story. Luck, here, is less a gift than a posture: eyes open, hands out, grin fixed.
Quote Details
| Topic | Motivational |
|---|---|
| Source | Samuel Goldwyn — quote as listed on Wikiquote: "I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it. The man who can smile at his breaks and grab his chances gets on." (original source not cited on page) |
More Quotes by Samuel
Add to List
