Essay on “Make Hay While the Sun Shines” Complete Essay, Paragraph, Speech for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Essay  No. 01

Outline: The meaning of the proverb — the importance of using opportunities —some examples — a less serious interpretation of the proverb.

Hay is grass cut and dried for use as animal food. The proverb exhorts us to make hay while there is sunshine, that is, to dry the grass by exposing it to the sun, for in Western countries sunshine is scarce. The figurative meaning of the proverb is that we should make the earliest use of our opportunities.

In order to attain success in any undertaking, individuals and nations must have adequate resources and certain qualities like courage, heroism, and skill. Another important, though uncertain, factor which contributes to success is friendliness of circumstance, availability of suitable opportunities. We often observe that admirable qualities and heroic endeavour come to grief when circumstances are hostile. It is of the utmost importance that ambitious individuals and nations should have an eye for suitable opportunities and seize them when they occur. As Cassius puts it in Julius Caesar.

There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads onto fortune: But once omitted, all the rest of life Is bound in shallows and in misery.

Favourable opportunities do not often come, and it would be an irretrievable blunder to let them slip by either by not perceiving them or failing to make use of them through cowardice and hesitation.

Mahatma Gandhi had an uncanny sense of the right moments for launching his Civil Disobedience Movements. The ‘Quit India’ movement, for example, was timed admirably. The people were more politically conscious than at any other time and were ready for action, while the British were engaged in the war against Germany. Though Gandhi supported the British war aims, he felt that the psychological moment for dealing a final blow to British rule had come. He was justified in the sequel. The ‘Quit India’ agitation played a decisive part in hastening Indian independence. If we read the biographies of successful men, we will find that the secret of their success lay in sense ‘a tide in the affairs of men’ and their prompt and bold use of it. Conversely, the story of ambitious men who have failed is largely the story of lost opportunities and futile regret.

The advice contained in the adage can be interpreted less seriously. Herrick counsel’s girls to marry when they are young

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying.

( 430 Words )

Essay  No. 02

Make Hay While The Sun Shines

This proverb means that we should make the best use of an opportunity. Our life is a sum total of opportunities. They keep knocking at the door of everybody from time to time. He is a wise man who grabs them and puts them to the best use. An opportunity once missed is gone forever. It can’t be recalled and man may have to repent in all his life. Repentance is of no use. It makes man weak. It upsets him mentally as well as emotionally. He broods over the lost opportunity and does not take interest in whatever he does. This is not a right type of outlook. Instead of sulking he should prepare a ground for the next opportunity. He should be alert and determined so that the next opportunity may not evade him. Fate does provide opportunities. Man must avail them.

( 150 Words )

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

The idiom, “Make hay while the sun shines” originated in an agricultural setting and originally it was in the form “when the sun shineth, make hay”. This unique expression refers to the production of hay after a harvest. The warmth of the sun’s rays dry up the wheat stalks and turn them into hay. Once the hay is dry, if it gets wet again it starts to rot. The weather being unpredictable, one has to grab the opportunity and dry the hay while the sun is shining.

The meaning of this proverb is that ifthere is a task that needs to be done then it must be done while you still have a chance to do it. Advantage of favourable circumstances, which may not last indefinitely, must be taken. Most of us are inclined to delay things by postponing them to later dates. And come that later date some variables might change and it might no longer be possible to do it. This phrase applies to everybody regardless of their age or their gender. School children postpone studying during normal school days and when the exams rear their head on them, they are left worried and tense because they haven’t finished studying. On the other hand, the handful students who study regularly are cool as cucumbers when exams are round the corner. They have enough time to revise and they are well prepared for the exam.

Homemakers have a million things to do and no matter how much they try something ends not getting done. In this case one must keep in mind priority. If you are on your way to pay the bill and the phone rings and you pick it up to find it’s a friend on the phone what do you do?? Well you tell the friend you will call her back later and you go pay the bill because if you sit to talk to your friend you might end at the bill counter when it has closed for the day. The right thing must be done at the right time for it to be effective otherwise the entire effort is wasted.

The Latin proverb ‘Carpe Diem’ or ‘seize the day’ means the same thing. The goldsmith must work when the gold is hot if he wants to mould the gold into an ornament. It goes without saying that you cannot dry your clothes when it is raining cats and dogs. You must wait for the sun to shine first. So be on the lookout for that opportunity and when it comes your way, seize it with both your hands. Life is short and we must make most of the opportunities that present themselves to us. So whatever it is, whether it is work or play, whether it is asking forgiveness from a loved one or forgiving someone we love don’t wait until it is too late. Do it while the sun is still shining on you.

( 500 Words )