Like several other phrases, this phrase was coined by William Shakespeare. Jacques has spoken this famous phrase in Act-II, Scene-VII of the play As You Like It. He says, “All the world’s a stage,/ And all the men and women merely players.” The meaning of this phrase is that this world is like a stage show, and all human beings are merely actors. In fact, this speech is a continuance of the idea given by Orlando earlier in the play.
Meaning of All the World’s a Stage
Shakespeare draws readers’ attention toward the drama everyone lives throughout their lives. He is really reducing the life of human beings to a performance, or an acting role, which might look ridiculous. Simply, he means that all human beings are players, who play their assigned roles in every day. For instance, if somebody is a soldier now, he is playing the role Lord has allotted to him. Same is the case with other professionals. Even several roles are common such, as the role of a young lover, a haughty middle-aged man, or a great golfer.
