"For life is but a dream whose shapes return, some frequently, some seldom, some by night and some by day"

In the quote "For life is but a dream whose shapes return, some regularly, some hardly ever, some by night and some by day", James Thomson uses a poetic reflection on the nature of life itself. This expression suggests that life is ephemeral and short-term, much like a dream. The metaphor of life as a dream shows that our experiences, emotions, and understandings are short lived and can move in surprising and typically unpredictable methods.

The mention of "shapes" returning "some regularly, some rarely, some by night and some by day" highlights the cyclical and varied nature of these experiences. "Shapes" can be understood as the types or manifestations of life's events and memories. The fact that some shapes return frequently while others appear only seldom reflects the varying impact and reoccurrence of various minutes in our lives. For instance, routine tasks and everyday events form the regular shapes, while rare occasions, possibly of substantial importance or belief, form the rarely shapes.

The division between "some by night and some by day" may signify the duality and contrasting experiences in life. Night may be associated with the subconscious, dreams, and the unknown, where our deepest fears and desires manifest in a surreal tapestry. Day, on the other hand, could represent truth, awareness, and the more concrete aspects of our presence. This distinction highlights the complex interaction in between our waking life and our dream life, where both possess profound influence over our understanding of the world and ourselves.

Eventually, Thomson's description recommends a philosophical view of life as a continuous, unforeseeable cycle of experiences that, while often strange and intangible, forms our truth and individual story. This analysis invites us to consider the transient beauty and intricacy of human presence, recognizing the dream-like quality that colors every phase and minute within it.