Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

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More information about this quote

Topic

Absurdity of life The absurd Life as performance Ephemeral nature of life Life

Speaker

Macbeth

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Macbeth

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Occupation

Playwright Poet Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 5, sc. 5.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 5.

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A quote by William Shakespeare about the absurdity of life: “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and…”
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A quote by William Shakespeare about the absurdity of life: “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and…”
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A quote by William Shakespeare about the absurdity of life: “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Life

One can live for years sometimes, without living at all, and then all life comes crowding into a single hour.

Oscar Wilde

More information about this quote
Topic
Life The human condition
Speaker
Ivan the Czar

Author

Oscar Wilde
Source
Vera, or The Nihilists
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragic play
Language
English
Time
1880 1880s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Wilde, Oscar. Vera; or, The Nihilists. London: Ranken & Co., 1880, act 4.

Current Citation

Wilde, Oscar. "Vera; or, The Nihilists." The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde: Vera; or The Nihilist and Lady Windermere's Fan, edited by Josephine M. Guy. Vol. 11, Oxford University Press, 2021, act 4.

Another quote from European Renaissance

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones.

William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

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More information about this quote
Topic
Reputation
Speaker
Mark Antony

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
Julius Caesar
Medium
Play
Genre
History (play) Tragedy (play)
Language
English
Time
1599 1590s 16th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, 1599, Globe Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Julius Caesar." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

Be like a headland of rock on which the waves break incessantly: but it stands fast and around it the seething of the waters sinks to rest.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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More information about this quote
Topic
Steadfastness Dependability Inner strength Courage

Author

Marcus Aurelius
Source
Meditations
Medium
Personal journal
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Advice Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Greek
Time
180 180s 2nd century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 4.