When starting an essay with a quote how do transition from the quote to the actual point of the essay?

You have to have a quote that has some relevance to your essay.

For example you could start an essay on the decrease of the honey bee in the environment with a quote from Shakespeare.

These famous Words by Shakespeare "To be or not to be, that is the question" are quite relevant today when considering the current decline in the numbers of honey bees world wide.