Quote by William Hazlitt
They are, as it were, train-bearers in the pageant of life, and hold a glass up to humanity, frailer than itself. We see ourselves at second-hand in them: they show us all that we are, all that we wish to be, and all that we dread to be. What brings the resemblance nearer is, that, as they imitate us, we, in our turn, imitate them. There is no class of society whom so many persons regard with affection as actors.
Summary
This quote suggests that actors, like train-bearers in a pageant, reflect the fragility of humanity and serve as mirrors for our own desires and fears. They are seen as beloved because they allow us to see ourselves through their performances, ultimately influencing our own behavior as we imitate them. No other group is viewed with such affection by society.
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