Make hay while the sun shines
The work of a farmer depends almost entirely on the weather. But this is a very uncertain factor, and he has, accordingly, to make the most of his opportunities. Hay-making requires bright sunshine, and as hay is ruined by exposure to rain or mist, the farmer has to be quick in getting his hay while the weather is favourable. In an extended sense, the difficulties of the farmer are the difficulties of all human beings, no matter what their sphere of action may be. Life, like the weather, is uncertain. No man can tell how soon, or in what form, death may overtake him. Nor are our faculties always equally vigorous. Much depends, moreover, on the state of our health. As youth comes, but once, so opportunities never repeat themselves; or if they do, the circumstances are not so favourable to our seizing them. It is, therefore, necessary to make the best of those that come our way. Like the careful farmer we should always be on the alert to make the sunshine of opportunity serve our needs. The man who takes things easily, who is always putting off till tomorrow what he should do today, who does not strike while the iron is hot, will soon find himself in the predicament of the farmer whose hay, not having been made while the sun shone, is ruined by a change in the weather. The story of the Athenians who made war on the Syracusans is to the point. On account of an eclipse of the sun, the former postponed setting sail, though in desperate circumstances. The delay was fatal, for at the end of that time, Nicias, the Athenian general, was forced to give battle, lost his fleet, and suffered a most crushing defeat. It is necessary then to seize opportunities while they are within our grasp and use them to the best advantage.
