All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances.
In plain words
Life is a big play, and everyone gets a turn on the stage.
Where these words come from
- 95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 7, spoken by Jaques, opening his famous 'seven ages of man' speech comparing life to a play.
- As You Like It
- c. 1599 · Jaques's speech to Duke Senior's court comparing human life to a play with many roles
More from William Shakespeare
See allThere are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
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William ShakespeareThe quality of mercy is not strain'd, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.William ShakespeareTo thine own self be true.William ShakespeareGive every man thine ear, but few thy voice.William ShakespeareSweet are the uses of adversity, which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head.William ShakespeareBe not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.William ShakespeareMore on stories
A single conversation with a wise man is worth a month's study of books.Chinese proverbDo not be guilty of possessing a library of learned books while lacking learning yourself.
ErasmusFiction is Truth's elder sister.
Rudyard KiplingReading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body.
Joseph AddisonReading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.
Francis BaconFiction is to the grown man what play is to the child; it is there that he changes the atmosphere and tenor of his life.
Robert Louis Stevenson
ErasmusFiction is Truth's elder sister.Rudyard KiplingReading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body.Joseph AddisonReading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.Francis BaconFiction is to the grown man what play is to the child; it is there that he changes the atmosphere and tenor of his life.Robert Louis Stevenson