Pondering Shakespeare....

" There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their lives
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures. "

For some reason I have not been able to get these lines written by Shakespeare out of my head for the last few days. They keep running through my mind on and off.
These lines were said at a point in the play when Brutus and Cassius are preparing for the impending war against Antony and Octavius. The bone of contention being who were more worthy being called traitors. The reason that Brutus utters these words is that he wants to settle the debate regarding what the right time is for attacking the enemy.
There is so much meaning in those few lines that one can ponder and ponder and yet feel that some meaning still lingers which one has not touched upon. They are so very relevant to every person and every circumstance. There is always that correct time and correct place for things and recognizing that particular path which should ideally be taken is oft a dilemma. Action or lack of action both can be a deciding fact. Sometimes one action or decision can alter situations and lives so much .
I guess that's why they say opportunities come only once. The moment passes and then the course of things is forever changed.