proverb · Source-linked selection
There is a tide in the affairs of man which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
There is a tide in the affairs of man which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A favourable opportunity may need action while its conditions last. The high tide pictures a moment when progress is easier than it will be later.
What the words are saying
Taking the tide at the flood makes timing part of a successful journey. The saying can encourage noticing a genuine opening rather than assuming it will remain indefinitely. It does not establish that every opportunity leads to fortune or that urgency excuses poor judgment. A careful application examines the evidence, preparation and costs before deciding that now is the right moment.
Everyday example
A group uses an available meeting to resolve a prepared question while the necessary participants are present.
When to use it
Use it to consider a well-supported opportunity whose conditions may change.
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What it does not mean
An apparent opening does not guarantee success or justify an unexamined rush.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1616 · Tide
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English