A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

This aphorism is widely attributed to Francis Bacon in the context of his broader moral and practical writings, which emphasize prudence, initiative, and the active shaping of one’s fortunes rather than passive reliance on luck. It aligns with Bacon’s recurring interest in how individuals can use judgment, preparation, and deliberate action to advance their aims—an outlook consistent with his essays on ambition, counsel, and the management of affairs at court and in public life. However, the exact occasion and first appearance of this specific wording are difficult to pin down with confidence from Bacon’s authenticated texts without a precise citation.

The saying contrasts two approaches to life: merely encountering chances versus deliberately generating them. A “wise man” is not defined by superior fortune but by agency—anticipating needs, cultivating relationships, preparing skills, and acting decisively so that openings appear where others see none. The line implies that opportunity is often constructed through foresight and effort, not simply discovered. It also carries a moral edge typical of Baconian maxims: wisdom is practical, measurable in outcomes, and expressed through the capacity to turn circumstances to advantage. In modern terms, it champions proactive strategy over waiting for ideal conditions.