What is the meaning of the following quote from Julius Caesar?: "There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on the fortune;...

This
quotation is from a discussion about military strategy between Brutus and Cassius. In it, Brutus
is speaking to advocate attacking Octavian at Philippi. He argues that this would be the ideal
time to attack, before Octavian can augment his forces.

The central concept
is one known in Greekas "kairos," or the ideal time or moment. It is based on the
notion that the right words or actions are not enough; they must also be done at the right
time.

The notion of a tide isfor such a time. A ship, trying to land, needs
to work with a rising tide. Once the tide peaks, it then starts to recede. Brutus is suggesting
that this moment is like that of high tide. Once the moment is passed, there will be no equally
favorable situation in the future.

This quotation reflects the Stoic
philosophy of Brutus which acknowledges the inevitability of laws of nature and sees human
success as based on understanding and following those laws. Rather than fighting against the
tide, in human or nautical matters, the wise man chooses to work with those forces of
necessity.