New Delhi, April 8 -- The line, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players," is one of the most celebrated quotes in English literature. It was written by William Shakespeare in his play As You Like It, written around 1599. The line appears in Act II, Scene VII, in a speech delivered by the character Jaques.

In the play, Jaques reflects on the nature of human life, comparing it to a theatrical performance. According to him, every person enters the world like an actor stepping onto a stage and exits it in due course. He describes life as consisting of "seven ages," from infancy to old age, each with its own roles and behaviors.

The metaphor highlights the temporary and performative nature of human existence, sugge...