Quote by William Shakespeare, Julius Caes

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty menWalk under his huge legs and peep aboutTo find ourselves dishonourable graves.Men at some time are masters of their fates:The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,But in ourselves, that we are underlings.This is probably the source for: It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus,

Summary

This quote, spoken by Cassius in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, describes how Julius Caesar is seen as an overpowering and dominant figure, like a giant Colossus, while the rest of us are his insignificant followers. Cassius suggests that it is not fate or the alignment of the stars that control our destiny, but rather our own actions and choices. He implies that we are responsible for our own positions as "underlings" and have the power to shape our own futures. This quote is often paraphrased as "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

Topics

Fate & Destiny

By William Shakespeare, Julius Caes

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